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If you noticed that your dog has been draining his water bowl more than usual, it could be a cause for concern.
There are several reasons why your dog is extra thirsty, and some of these reasons won’t require a trip to the vet. If your dog is healthy, he could just be drinking more water due to boredom, feeling hot, or exercising more often.
However, if this problem persists for more than a few days, there could be a more severe underlying problem. Excessive thirst and increased urination in dogs is called polydipsia and can be caused by serious medical issues.
Symptoms of Polydipsia
Apart from increased urination and thirst in dogs, some other symptoms of polydipsia include weight loss, loss of appetite, lethargy, and vomiting. So if your dog is displaying some of these symptoms, it’s best to take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
There are various medical reasons that could explain why your dog is drinking more water than usual.
Causes of Polydipsia
Your vet may check your dog to see if he has any of the following common medical issues that can cause polydipsia:
- Diabetes mellitus (“sugar diabetes”)
- Kidney (renal) dysfunction
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Pyometra, an infection of the uterus (“womb”) in unspayed animals
- Diarrhea
To reach a diagnosis, your dog might have to undergo a series of tests and exams. Some of the most common tests include a urinalysis, blood serum chemistry, complete blood count, and a urine specific gravity. These tests are done in order to narrow down the possible causes for your dog’s polydipsia.
Treatment and possible further testing will ultimately depend on the diagnosis of your pet. If there is a serious underlying cause, the earlier your dog gets treated, the better.
If you think that your dog has polydipsia, we highly recommend having your fur baby checked immediately.
