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Why Does My Dog Drink So Much?

If the dog drinks noticeably large amounts of water, there may be a serious illness behind it. But even harmless causes can cause dogs to be very thirsty. We explain how you can tell whether your dog is drinking too much, what the unusual drinking behavior may be and when there is a need for action.

How Much Does a Dog Normally Drink?

Dogs need fresh water every day to regulate the water balance in the body. How much fluid the dog needs varies and depends on size, weight, and age as well as on the level of activity and diet of the pet.

On average, dogs need around 100 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight in a day.

For dog owners, however, it is not always clear whether the dog is drinking too little, enough, or even too much water. The first indications of increased thirst are particularly frequent drinking, the targeted search for water, for example drinking from puddles when walking, a constantly empty water bowl, and increased urination.

The following three causes are completely harmless:

Great thirst does not always have to have a pathological cause. If you notice changes in your dog’s drinking behavior, first consider whether there could be a harmless reason behind it. Temporarily strong thirst can be quite normal in some cases and often goes away on its own.

Summer heat increases the thirst of dogs

Increased drinking is particularly common in the summer months. At high temperatures, dogs need more water to maintain their body temperature and protect the body from overheating. If your dog drinks more in summer, this is quite normal and should regulate itself when the temperatures cool down again. Many dogs are also less hungry in the heat and therefore do not absorb any liquid through the wet food. The fur noses then also compensate for the lack of hunger by drinking more.

Active dogs need more water

Physical activity and exercise lead to a higher need for fluids in dogs. Four-legged friends can cool off with fresh water after running, playing, and after long walks. If your dog has exhausted himself physically, it is safe if he is more thirsty afterward than on quieter days.

Dry food makes dogs drink

How much water the dog drinks depends not least on the diet. Dogs that primarily eat dry food have to compensate for the lack of liquid in the food by drinking more. As a result, the dog drinks more water than a wet food diet. Even as a result of a change in food, the dog can show a changed drinking behavior and drink more water than usual.

The following diseases can be behind increased thirst:

If the dog drinks too much water without any changes in external conditions such as weather, activity, or diet, an illness may be the cause of the changed drinking behavior. Both mild and severe illnesses can be behind the increased thirst of the four-legged friend.

Dogs with diabetes drink more water

Diabetes is a metabolic disease also known as diabetes. The affected dog’s body is unable to lower blood sugar levels due to a lack of insulin or resistance to insulin. If left untreated, the increased blood sugar will cause fluid to be withdrawn from the dog’s body. As a result, the dog shows symptoms such as an increased urge to urinate, accompanied by a strong thirst and increased water intake.

Canine Renal Failure

If the dog drinks too much water, this can be an indication of kidney disease. This is a common disease that manifests itself as impaired kidney function. With renal insufficiency, toxins can no longer be completely filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. To get rid of toxins in the urine, the dog drinks more water and urinates more often.

In the case of kidney disease, it is crucial that the disease is detected early. As the disease progresses, there is an increased accumulation of toxins in the dog’s body. Serious symptoms up to and including the death of the animal are the result. Unfortunately, the disease is often recognized late, as signs such as increased thirst only appear over time.

Bladder infections and urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections such as cystitis can make dogs thirsty. Due to a bacterial infection, your four-legged friend constantly needs to urinate. The disease affects females more often than males and is often associated with pain and behavioral problems. It can happen that the dog eats little or nothing and drinks a lot.

Uterine inflammation

A uterine inflammation only affects females and, like cystitis, is caused by bacteria, whereby hormonal disorders can also be involved in the development of the inflammation. In addition to noticeable symptoms such as fever and pain, severe thirst is a typical symptom of uterine inflammation in the female

Dogs with Cushing’s syndrome drink plenty of water

Cushing’s syndrome, also known as Cushing’s disease or hyperadrenocorticism, is also a disease of the kidneys, more precisely the adrenal glands. The disease leads to excessive amounts of the stress hormone cortisol being produced in the dog’s body. Typical symptoms occur, including an increased appetite and weight gain as well as increased thirst. In most cases, Cushing’s syndrome tends to affect smaller dogs.

Other Causes of Increased Thirst in Dogs

  • Medications like cortisone can make the dog very thirsty and cause the dog to drink more.
  • After surgery under anesthesia, dogs are often very thirsty and drink large amounts of water.
  • Stress and mental illness can also lead to changes in drinking behavior in dogs.
  • Vitamin or mineral deficiencies are sometimes manifested by increased drinking.

Does He/She Have to Go to the Vet?

If you get the impression that your dog is drinking too much water, pay close attention to their drinking behavior first. To get a better overview of the amount you drink, measure the water in the drinking bowl with a measuring cup and note how much your dog drinks per day.

Also, take into account water that the dog drinks in the garden or while walking. If your dog turns out to be drinking too much water, you should see a veterinarian. Even if there are other symptoms, going to the vet is inevitable. Symptoms of illness that are often associated with increased thirst are fatigue, vomiting or diarrhea, panting, tremors, frequent urination, or a lack of appetite.

Alice White

Written by Alice White

Alice White, a devoted pet lover and writer, has turned her boundless affection for animals into a fulfilling career. Originally dreaming of wildlife, her limited scientific background led her to specialize in animal literature. Now she happily spends her days researching and writing about various creatures, living her dream.

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