Drinking More Water May Be the First Sign of a Serious Disease

If your dog or cat has been drinking more water lately, then it might be time for a visit to the vet. Pets drink more water for a wide variety of reasons, some of which can be signs of serious disease.

Drinking more water after exercise or on a hot day is normal. Just like people, animals drink water to stay hydrated and to keep cool. Animals will also drink more water after eating food.

Sometimes animals will drink lots of water as a type of obsessive behavior, particularly if they are anxious or bored. Dog breeds known for their intelligence and high intensity, such as Border Collies and German Shepherds, are more likely to become obsessed with drinking water. Behavioral medications may be necessary to treat this problem.

Testing For A Cause, Finding A Treatment

If your veterinarian doesn’t find a cause for increased drinking and urination based on physical exam and history, then blood and urine tests may be needed.

As dogs and cats get older, diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease become more common.

If these more common causes of increased drinking and urinating are not discovered on routine blood and urine tests, then further testing may be necessary.

Among the less common causes of increased drinking are infections, hormone imbalances, brain disease, and cancer.

Before you get too worried about these diseases, make an appointment with your veterinarian. Your vet can help determine if your pet is actually drinking too much water, what the cause might be, and how the issue can be treated.