Why is my dog drinking so much?
Since you’re asking that question, the issue isn’t really how much your dog drinks but that they are drinking more than they usually would, correct? Because it is the change that it’s significant, not necessarily the amount of water they consume.
How much water your dog needs depends on their size, diet, activity, and even the environment. There might be a perfectly natural reason for your dog to drink more, and it might be a reason for concern. (A simple rule of thumb is that if your dog drinks more than 100ml/Kg body weight/day, they are drinking too much.)
I talked to a friend about her dog’s post-op issues after surgery for her knee injury. During our discussion, she mentioned that they noticed that her dog’s urine was clear, with no color to it at all in the snow. She asked whether it was something to worry about.
I asked if her dog was drinking a lot. It turned out that her dog had been unusually thirsty and drinking copious amounts of water since her surgery three months ago!
That was a red flag. So I sent the friend to a vet. There they learned the pup’s kidneys were in trouble.
Unfortunately, just because you’re working on one particular problem, it doesn’t mean there can’t be another. Furthermore, what you’re doing to fix the problem can cause new ones–such as NSAIDs my friend’s dog was getting, were messing up the kidneys.
What constitutes excessive drinking?
On a hot day, after running around and playing, your dog is going to be very thirsty. Drinking more under such circumstances is normal and even encouraged. If your dog’s tongue starts getting covered by sticky streaks of saliva, they are getting dehydrated.
A dog on dry kibble needs to drink more than a dog on a diet with higher water content.
If your dog’s urination habits are normal and the urine is yellow, then it is likely that the amount of water they drink replenishes water lost through panting and exercise.
If your dog pees more than usual and the urine is very light in color or colorless, then the water intake is high. The next step is to find out why.
Why would my dog drink excessively?
Excessive thirst is the body’s attempt to balance fluids–either because they are being lost or because of increased concentrations of things such as blood sugar or cortisol.
Depending on other symptoms, excessive drinking can be a sign of severe, life-threatening conditions, including
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cushing’s Syndrome
- Addison’s disease
- Liver or kidney disease
- Uterine infection
- Hyperthermia
- and other serious conditions
Certain drugs, such as steroids, can also make your dog more thirsty and hungry than normal.
Excessive drinking is a sign of an internal battle. The body is trying to sort out a serious problem, and more likely than not, it won’t be able to do it without help.
When in doubt, err on the side of caution.
When your dog’s drinking habits change without an obvious explanation, such as hot weather, take it seriously. The least you can do is to have your dog checked out. Don’t forget to bring a urine sample, too; ideally, first-morning pee. (If you can’t get the sample immediately after collection, keep it in the fridge.)
Early diagnosis can mean the difference between treatment success or failure.
Never withhold or limit water.
Preventing your dog from drinking and peeing so much might make you feel better, but it won’t help your dog in any way. On the contrary–it puts their health at risk. Remember, they are drinking so much because that’s what their body is telling them to do.
Related articles:
Changes in Urination/Urinary Accidents
Further reading:
The ins and outs of polyuria and polydipsia