My Dog Drinks a Lot of Water — Is It Sick?

If our dog drinks a lot of water, we should keep an eye on it, since there are many reasons its daily water intake could increase, some more serious than others. There are several diseases whose symptoms include increased thirst, increased urination, or other disorders in dogs.

At Soyunperro we'll explain the reasons a dog might drink more water than usual, and also which diseases are linked to it. This way, you'll be able to identify whether it's a problem that requires veterinary attention.

Natural Reasons a Dog Drinks a Lot of Water

A dog can drink more water than usual if, for example, it's been exercising or is coming back from a long walk, has been playing with other dogs, or it's simply hotter out.

We shouldn't worry at all if the reason is any of the above, since it's completely normal. Dogs hydrate by drinking water just like we do — water is an essential element for the body to function properly.

Our dog's diet also plays an important role in how much water it drinks. A dog fed on fresh food, like fresh meat, fruit, etc., will drink much less water than one fed on dry kibble.

Dog kibble is very dry and also compact. Once eaten, digestion begins with saliva, which softens it, continuing in the stomach. However, it needs a lot of water to be digested. You've probably seen your dog take big gulps of water after eating kibble more than once — that's completely normal.

Dogs that have spent time in shelters or rescues also tend to drink more water than usual, since in many shelters they don't always have water available, and they somehow learn to think they need to hydrate quickly because the water might be taken away. Don't worry, this usually passes over time.

Diseases That Cause a Dog to Drink a Lot of Water

Some diseases have, as a symptom, or at least as one of their symptoms, what's known in veterinary terms as polydipsia. Polydipsia means the dog drinks more water than usual.

One rough way to determine whether a dog has polydipsia: measure how much water it drinks per day; if the total is one hundred milliliters or more per kilo of body weight per day, the dog has polydipsia.

For example, if a ten-kilo dog drinks more than a liter a day, that's considered polydipsia (ten kilos of weight times one hundred milliliters equals one liter). But it depends on the individual, since within the same breed, as with humans, some drink more and others less.

Usually, in most cases, this polydipsia comes along with polyuria (peeing a lot). So it shares the same underlying diseases as polydipsia.

The most common diseases that cause a dog to drink more water than usual are:

• Kidney disease (usually accompanied by excess urination).
• Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's syndrome).
• Diabetes Mellitus.

For an extra clue, hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing's syndrome is usually accompanied by external signs such as bald patches on the animal's body or a swollen abdomen.

Less Common Diseases That Also Cause Excessive Thirst

These are the most common diseases, which can also come with increased food intake (polyphagia). But there are many more, less common ones, such as hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels), hypokalemia (low blood potassium levels), uterine and kidney infections, etc.

Other psychological conditions, such as canine obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), can also affect a dog's daily water intake. Poisoning after eating spoiled or toxic food can also cause polydipsia, as can feeding it something very salty.

Dogs with diarrhea also drink more water than normal, due to the dehydration these conditions can cause, and the same applies if they're vomiting. The body naturally and physiologically tries to compensate for these losses through increased water intake. In these cases, treating the diarrhea is usually enough for the dog to stop drinking excess water.

If you suspect your dog may have one of these diseases, you should see a vet so they can run the appropriate tests, confirm the diagnosis, and prescribe treatment.

My Dog Drinks a Lot of Water and Then Vomits

Dogs that exercise a lot, or that are very thirsty and suddenly drink a lot of water, can vomit due to too much water in a short period of time. If your dog vomits after drinking, give it water little by little — don't let it drink half a liter in one go, since that will upset its stomach.

Let it drink a bit and make it rest for a minute, let it drink a bit more and make it rest again, and so on — that's the best way to get it to drink slowly. In puppies, if it constantly regurgitates right after drinking or eating, it should be taken to the vet, since it could have a congenital condition that causes narrowing in the esophagus, causing food to come back up instead of going down.

You should also watch the temperature of the water it drinks. It's not a good idea to give your dog water straight from the fridge or that's very hot, since this could cause ulcers. The water should be cool to lukewarm.

If your dog drinks too much water or eats a lot, don't let it run around right after. Try to have it rest for a couple of hours to prevent conditions such as gastric dilatation-volvulus. Dogs… always want to play and run — it's our responsibility to look after them.

Remember it's extremely important for your dog to always have access to clean, fresh water, regardless of how much it drinks.