Polydipsia is the term veterinarians use to describe excessive water drinking in animals. It is usually accompanied by polyuria, excessively urinating. To determine if your dog is drinking excessively we need to factor in any losses they are experiencing. If your dog is hot and they are panting, they are losing water in their breath as well as sweating from their paw pads. Also if they are having diarrhea they are losing water in their feces. In those cases your dog may be drinking more to make up for the loses they are experiencing. Puppies and nursing dogs tend to drink more water as well.
Excessive drinking that without any other losses can be a sign of many different diseases. A normal dog should be drinking about 20-70 milliliters per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight or about 1 ounce of water per pound. Anything over this amount would be considered excessive.
What can cause polydipsia?
Diabetes mellitus or Insipidus
Cushing's disease
Kidney disease
Elevated blood calcium levels
Fever/infections
Anemia (low red blood cell counts)
Foods high in salt
Medications: steroids, diuretics, anti-seizure medications
Psychogenic polydipsia- a behavioral cause of excessive drinking
What to do if your dog is drinking excessively?
Quantify how much they are actually drinking. This means measuring out how much water they are actually drinking.
Do not restrict your dog's water. This can lead to dehydration and fluid imbalances that can make your dog feel sick.
Make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible.
What will your veterinarian do?
Ask you a detail history of their drinking/eating/urinary habits
Perform a thorough physical examination
Run bloodwork and a urinalysis
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