If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian — they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
What should you do if your dog is drinking a lot of water? Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. How will my veterinarian diagnose my dog’s condition? Initially, your veterinarian will perform a number of blood and urine tests. Additional tests may be needed to further identify and regulate the condition. The only way to reduce water intake is to manage the underlying condition. Most of these conditions can be regulated and your dog can go on to lead a normal life of good quality.
An uncommon cause of dogs drinking more is called psychogenic polydipsia. It is a behavioral condition with a physical manifestation of excess thirst. Primary polydipsia is used to describe excessive water drinking that is not due to illness or psychosis: bored puppies or water loving breeds may tank up on water occasionally or consistently. Sorting these out can be a real challenge for your veterinarian. Some medications, such as cortical steroids often have increased water intake as a side effect.How should increased thirst and drinking be managed? Drinking excessive amounts of water often is associated with increased urination. While drinking a lot of water is a sign of health problems, increased urination can be a real problem for you to live with since affected dogs often urinate inappropriately. The first and most important step in addressing excessive drinking is to diagnose and confirm the underlying condition with your veterinarian. Many of the conditions associated with excess thirst are very serious and must be addressed as soon as possible:
The simplest reason that people or animals drink is because they are thirsty. Their body is becoming low on water and they must drink to make up the losses. Since dogs don’t sweat, except from their nose and foot pads, they eliminate body heat by panting. When they pant a lot, they lose water through evaporation. This water loss is physiologic and can be readily replenished by drinking. Excess water intake that goes beyond a normal amount, or that occurs without cause, may be a sign of disease. In a variety of conditions the body is not able to control water loss even at normal temperatures. This water loss must be replenished and so dogs drink a lot to find a balance. How much water intake is normal in a healthy dog? Generally, water intake will vary a little with diet. If dogs are fed wet food, they may drink less, while dogs that are fed dry food or salty treats must make up water intake and seem to drink more than expected. However, this water intake is still physiologically normal. A good general guideline is that a healthy dog should drink between 20-70ml/kg per day1. Being aware of your dog’s water intake is important because drinking too little water can lead to dehydration while drinking too much water can be an indication of organ disease. If your dog is drinking more, he’ll probably also be peeing more (another sign of a potential problem). In fact, increased intake is often a response to excess fluid loss in urine. If your dog is drinking excessively (polydipsia) it is possibly because he is losing excess amounts of water for any of a number of reasons. While a number of diseases result in excess water intake and urine output, the most common of these diseases include kidney failure, diabetes mellitus and Cushing’s disease.
These are all complicated and progressive diseases. It is important that these conditions be confirmed and controlled before they result in irreversible damage. What not to do if your dog is drinking a lot
Do you find yourself having to refill your dog’s water bowl more often than usual? It could be that your dog is drinking excessively, which can be a sign of a health issue.
Dogs can end up drinking a lot of water for many different reasons. Just like humans reaching for their water bottle more often on hot summer days or after a salty snack, our dogs could also become thirsty more quickly depending on how hot they are or what food they eat.
However, there are certain underlying health problems that could also lead to extra trips to the water bowl. A visit to the vet is the best next step to take when you notice your dog’s new drinking habit. If you are able to quantify how much your pet drinks each day, by using a measuring jug each time you top up the bowl and keeping a tally, that can be very helpful information for your vet. Here is what you need to know about causes of excessive drinking in dogs.
It depends on their age, breed size, activity levels and diet but normally a dog should drink about 20-70ml of water per kilo of body weight per day. If they go above this amount of water, it may be that your dog is drinking excessively although there can be a lot of variation between individuals. Of course, if it’s very hot weather your dog may be drinking more than usual, but if you can see no reason for extra thirst then it could be a health issue.
What constitutes increased thirst in dogs?
Felmon’s mom had done a good job of qualifying that he was drinking about three times more than normal. But this brings up the question of how much water a dog should normally drink.
On average, most dogs need about one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. Or, a little over one cup of water per 10 pounds of body weight every day.
Therefore, a 40-pound dog needs 40 ounces, or approximately 4 to 5 cups of water every day. Whereas, a 10-pound dog needs about 10 ounces, or approximately 1 to 2 cups, of water every day.
On some occasions, dogs may drink a little more or a little less than this average amount of water. For example, take a dog who just came back from running a few miles with you. It would be completely normal for him or her to drink extra water when you get home. And you will probably be drinking more water too.
On the other hand, consider a dog who was been snuggling on the couch with you. He or she may not drink as much water right then. These small variations in water consumption are normal. Usually they aren’t a cause for concern.
It is also important to note that normal water consumption can vary slightly from dog to dog. Some dogs may normally drink more than that one ounce per pound and others less than that amount. This is why can be helpful to establish about how much water your particular dog normally drinks. If you notice consistent and significant variations from that number that cannot be explained by diet, ambient temperature, exercise level, etc., this may indicate there is a bigger problem going on.
If your dog is regularly drinking more water than normal, he or she is showing increased thirst. The term for increased thirst is polydipsia. Remember, what goes in, must come out. So, when drinking increases, this typically increases urination too. Increased urination is called polyuria.
Why Is Your Dog Drinking So Much Water?
While it’s normal for dogs to take water breaks throughout the day, you may be a bit concerned if you notice your pet drinking excessively. Can a dog drink too much water? And, could it be a sign of something larger? “An owner should be concerned if their dog drinks the entire bowl at once and continues to drink every time water is offered,” shares Dr. Elizabeth Appleman, staff veterinarian at NYC’s Animal Medical Center. Further, if you find yourself constantly refilling the water bowl, if your dog suddenly starts drinking water from the toilet, or if you happen to notice that your dog is urinating more than normal, it could be a sign of a potential disease or condition. It’s a good idea to get a feel for how much your dog typically drinks when he’s healthy. If you notice a significant change, alarm bells should go off.