Increased thirst is commonly seen in older pets and whilst warm weather may be a factor, it is an important symptom that shouldn’t be ignored, as it may be a sign of underlying disease. Pets may appear relatively normal or show a variety of other symptoms.
In cats it can be particularly noticeable, since most cats spend years showing no interest in water, and then suddenly you are regularly filling their water bowl.
Increased drinking may point to a range of problems including kidney or liver disease, diabetes mellitus, Cushing’s disease in dogs and hyperthyroidism in cats (to name but a few).
Additionally, older unspayed females are predisposed to pyometra – a life threatening uterine infection that commonly has increased thirst as one of its presenting signs.
So, if you think your pet is drinking more than normal please bring them for a check-up. As well as giving your pet a thorough comical examination, urine and blood tests are usually very helpful in making a diagnosis.
Once the problem is identified we can hopefully get treatment (tailored to the specific issue) under way.
The good news is that although there is no cure for old age, we do have many treatments for many conditions mentioned above which will hopefully ease the symptoms and prevent or slow the progression of disease.
If you are concerned that your pet is showing any of the signs described above, please come and see us for an appointment!