Some dogs may simply drink a lot of water and that can be normal for them and nothing to worry about. Excessive water drinking that is a sudden change and out of character for your dog may signal a health issue. The medical term is called polydipsia from the Greek word poly, which means “many” and dipsa, which means thirst. Dogs affected by polydipsia will also be affected by “polyuria,” the medical term for excessive urination. After all, what goes in eventually comes out! The urine will often be very clear, almost like water. In some cases, dogs may drink so much they may not be able to contain themselves and may have accidents inside the home. This is a sure sign that something is wrong. Try to be aware of how much your dog drinks on a regular basis, take note and consult your vet if the amount suddenly increases or decreases.
What Should I Do If My Dog is Drinking Too Much?
While most of the diseases that correlate with excessive water drinking have successful treatment options, the key is obtaining the correct diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made, your veterinarian can almost always reduce (though maybe not fully resolve) water consumption and relieve the constant thirst and urination the dog is experiencing.” Many of the conditions that can cause dogs to drink a lot of water are quite serious. Diabetes, kidney/liver disease, infection, fever, heatstroke, thyroid issues. If you have any concerns about your dog’s water consumption, make an appointment with your veterinarian as quickly as possible. Some signs to look for are;
- Thirsty all the time.
- Emptying their water bowl more quickly than usual.
- Drinking from taps, puddles or streams more regularly than usual.
- Drinking so much that they vomit.
- Peeing more often or peeing larger volumes.
- Having accidents weeing in the house.
If this is the case, contact your vet. It can be helpful to take a urine sample along with you to the appointment and tell you vet exactly how much your dog is drinking in a 24 hour period.