Excessive Thirst in Dogs

If you've ever had a dog and you've experienced symptoms of excessive thirst in him, it is necessary for you to look into the matter immediately. This symptom could be an indication of a more serious problem.

In this context, it is important to know what polydipsia is―it is a condition that leads to excessive thirst. This will, in turn, lead to a condition that is closely connected with polydipsia which is called polyuria. Polyuria is a condition that is characterized by the excessive formation of urine and thereby frequent urination in dogs. It is very important to note that chronic thirst in dogs is an early sign of several diseases.

The daily intake of water for a dog is normally 90 ml per day per kg of the dog's weight. If you notice that your dog has suddenly started consuming a lot of water, calculate the exact amount and whether it will amount to excessive thirst by cutting out all other sources of water and only providing it in his bowl.

Then calculate the amount left in the bowl and minus it from the original water amount. If this persists for several days then you'll know that there is an underlying reason for it.

Also known as Diabetes Mellitus, diabetes is a disease that is caused in 5% of dogs. This is caused when the glucose level in the dog's body becomes high and the glucose is therefore forced to enter the liver and muscles as glycogen, instead of entering the body tissues to be utilized as energy.

Thus the pancreas will not produce enough insulin and the dog will become very weak and lose energy. This will result in excessive thirst as they are searching for nutrients to make up for the weakness and loss of energy.

The kidney is responsible for cleaning the wastes from the blood and retaining the salt, calcium, phosphorous, and water in the body. When there is a kidney failure (which can be caused by antifreeze, certain plants, heavy metals, and rat poison), you will notice that this condition may come about.

This disease is caused by the chronic over production of a hormone called glucocorticold. This is produced by the adrenal glands and results in an increased appetite, excessive thirst, loss of energy, and skin and coat changes in dogs.

Normally, a hormone called ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone) is produced by the pituitary glands which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce these hormones.

• High blood calcium
• Liver disease.
• Uterine infection(Pyometra)
• Pituitary gland abnormalities
• Kidney tubules defects and abnormalities
• Excessive activity
• Heat

So look out for these signs and causes of excessive thirst in dogs, and if you ever find your dog exhibiting any of these then take him to a vet immediately for treatment. This might just prevent the disease from escalating into a worse condition.

Disclaimer - This story is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.