Dogs drinking water is a normal part of their daily life, but when does it become an issue and raise red flags to their health?
Dogs drink water because they’re thirsty and when their bodies become low on water, it will cue thirst. Dogs lose water through panting — since dogs only sweat through their foot pads and noses — and it can only be replenished by drinking water.
How much your dog is drinking isn’t something you really think about but if they’re drinking more than usual, it will become more noticeable. The Vet Set in Carroll Gardens is a vet clinic that you can both bring your pet to or utilize our mobile vet services that come to you! Join us in today’s post as we examine what it might mean if your dog is drinking more water than usual.
What it Means if Your Dog is Drinking A lot of Water
A healthy water intake will look different for each dog — every dog has different variables that will affect how much water they consume on a daily basis. For example, if your dog primarily eats wet dog food they will generally require less water than those who eat dry kibble. The recommended amount of water for ideal pet health is 20 to 70 ml/kg each day. It’s important as a dog owner to get a good idea of how much they do drink, so you can recognize when it’s too much or too little.
An unbalanced water intake can result in health issues concerning your dog — too little causes dehydration, while too much may be a sign of organ disease. When your dog is drinking too much water you’ll be able to recognize it because they will also be peeing more.
The medical term for a dog consuming large amounts of water is polydipsia, and this may be caused by your dog losing excess water through health concerns such as Cushing’s Disease, diabetes, and kidney failure.
Another reason why your dog may drinking more water could be related to behavior — dogs will drink water when they’re bored and water-loving breeds tend to drink more water. Sorting out whether it’s behavioral or physical can be tough for a vet.
If your dog is on a medication, this is yet another factor that can impact the amount of water they are consuming. Cortical steroids are notorious for ramping up your dog’s thirst and increased water consumption as a result.
How to Manage Excess Water Drinking in Your Dog
If your dog is drinking more water, again, they will typically be urinating more frequently and this is one of the first signs dog owners notice. The most vital thing you can do for your dog and its increased water intake is to get answers.
Take your dog to an animal health clinic – Address the changes in your dog’s water intake by getting diagnostics at your local animal health clinic. The vet will be able to run tests and diagnose possible conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, urinary tract infection, and high blood calcium levels.
The vet will address your dog’s issues with a series of urine and blood tests. Further tests may be performed for clarity and to better manage the condition.
Never restrict your dog’s water intake – Though this may be difficult on you because you’re constantly having to let your dog out to urinate, it’s important to never restrict how much water they do drink. Restricting their water could make matters worse and lead to dehydration and fluid imbalances.
Don’t ignore the problem – Because dogs aren’t to communicate their needs, their bodies will. It’s important to never disregard or overlook a behavior — the issue may only become worse and even fatal if it goes unaddressed.
Truly, the only way to manage excessive water drinking is to address its root cause. If your dog does end up having a health issue, most can be managed and control with a good dog vet and they will have a good quality of life.
To learn more about our animal health clinic in Carroll Gardens and the services we offer, connect with us today!