Dog who drinks a lot: when should you worry?
A dog drinks more when he feels thirsty. In certain circumstances, it is quite normal for a dog or a female dog to drink a lot more than usual:
- when he evolved in a very hot environment (heat wave, car in the sun, overheated home),
- when the animal has exercised,
- when switching from a wet diet such as homemade diet to a dry diet exclusively composed of kibble,
- when she is expecting or nursing her babies,
- or even when the dog has eaten too s alty food (sausage, peanuts, smoked salmon, etc.).
But, when a dog drinks a lot, it lasts over time, and the reason for this intense thirst does not seem obvious to you, it must then be considered as a symptom of an illness. In medical jargon, this symptom is called polyuro-polydipsia, which means "drinking and urinating a lot" .
Medically, an adult dog is considered to suffer from polyuro-polydipsia - in other words that he drinks too much - when he drinks more than 90ml of water per day and per kg of body weight.
This is a threshold beyond which it is advisable to speak to a veterinarian without delay.
Why can a dog drink a lot?
Several reasons, apart from the physiological reasons mentioned above, can explain an increase in drinking in dogs, including:
Taking medication
Certain diuretic, corticosteroid or progestogen medications have the side or undesirable effect of increasing drinking. You must then speak to your veterinarian who alone can judge the advisability of adjusting or changing the treatment.
Loss of water due to diarrhea
The occurrence of an episode of diarrhea in dogs can also cause them to drink a lot more. Diarrhea causes a significant loss of water through the stool. The dog's body then naturally seeks to recover the water it lacks.
Various he alth issues
Many illnesses can have an increase in water consumption as a symptom among:
- Diabetes mellitus: this metabolic disease also causes polyphagia (the dog eats more), weight gain or weight loss and cataracts,
- Chronic kidney failure which also causes weight loss, diarrhea problems, vomiting,
- Cushing's disease. Other symptoms are weight gain, polyphagia, thinning of the skin and the presence of blackheads (comedones) on it, hair loss and a distended belly,
- Diabetes insipidus. Other symptoms include neurological disorders, disorders related to a kidney or endocrine problem and urges to urinate that occur at night,
- An infection of the uterus called pyometra. In addition to polyuro-polydipsia, it causes purulent vulvar discharge, fever and abdominal pain,
- A pyelonephritis. This urinary tract infection which has reached the kidneys is also characterized by fever, abdominal pain, the presence of blood in the urine and when it is chronic, weight loss,
- Liver failure which also causes vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea, jaundice, edema,
- Hypercalcemia or hypokalemia
- Etc.
A behavioral problem
Dogs that suffer from a behavioral disorder called potomania can also start drinking a lot more than usual. The dog then feels the continual need to drink, in the absence of a physical illness that could explain this need.
What should I do if my dog drinks a lot?
If your dog drinks a lot, the only thing to do is to consult your veterinarian as soon as possible so that he can identify the cause of this behavior.
To objectify your dog's drink intake, remember to measure your dog's daily water consumption so that you can communicate it to your veterinarian during the consultation.
On the other hand, never ration to ration your dog with water, even if your dog urinates more than usual and encounters problems of uncleanliness.