My Pet Is Suddenly Drinking A Lot More Water – Should I Be Worried?

As a pet owner, seeing your pet not acting their normal self can be concerning.

While the amount of water your pet drinks daily can highly vary from one day to the next, repeated or continuous increased drinking could indicate underlying health issues.

Commonly seen with increased thirst/drinking is increased urination. Understanding the potential causes, diagnostic steps, and treatment options can help you determine when to seek veterinary care.

The body has tightly regulated systems in place that control water intake (thirst) and urine output.

Body systems include:

1. Brain: Pituitary gland and Hypothalamus: areas in the brain that regulate thirst and fluid volume. ADH (Anti-diuretic Hormone) is a hormone that is released when there is a notable decrease in water intake or increase in water loss. When released- the hormone signals the kidneys to retain water in the body through filtration.
2. Kidneys: filter blood to remove toxins, balance electrolytes, and produce urine, along with several other important functions. When ADH is released, this tells the kidneys to remove more water (to keep within the body) from the urine creating a more concentrated urine and decreases the amount of water lost in urine.
3. Adrenal glands (small organs close to kidneys): produce essential hormones to maintain balance within the body. Aldosterone is a hormone produced that is crucial in balancing electrolytes, fluid volume and blood pressure.

While sometimes finding the underlying cause of increased thirst/drinking can be straightforward, other times can be difficult and require extensive testing to help rule out possible causes.

Possible Causes of Increased Drinking in Pets

Increased drinking in pets can result from a number of factors, ranging from a normal bodily response to a mild concern or even severe health issue. Some common causes include the following:

1. Activity

Activity can play a large role in drinking amounts. Your pet may drink more if they have been more active or exercised, panting, or have eaten certain foods. Boredom can also cause increased drinking. Nursing puppies and highly active dogs will drink more than others.

2. Kidney Disease

There are several possible reasons kidney disease can cause increased drinking. If the kidneys are not functioning appropriately, there can be increased water lost in the urine and therefore cause increased drinking. Kidney disease can occur from many possible causes such as chronic disease, infection, toxin, cancer, etc.

3. Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus occurs when there is excessive glucose within the blood due to the  lack of adequate insulin produced or a lack of response to insulin produced to control glucose levels. When excessive glucose levels are excreted through the kidneys, this pulls water as well, causing increased loss of water and increased drinking in return.

4. 4. Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism)

This is a disease that is caused from an increase in production of steroids that are produced from the adrenal glands. An increase in steroid production is caused by either a tumor in the pituitary gland or in the adrenal gland. An uncommon cause is “Iatrogenic Cushing’s” where increased cortisol is caused by taking steroids as a medication.

5. Liver Disease

The liver has many important functions, including production of proteins and hormones, detoxification, metabolism, and even fluid balance. When there is liver dysfunction/disease, increased drinking and urination can be seen.

6. Other possible reasons:

• Infections
• Psychogenic polydipsia
• Hyperthyroidism in cats
• Cancer
• Fever
• Certain Medications (i.e steroids, diuretics, anti-seizure medication)
• Diabetes Insipidus
• Cancer
• Others

Diagnosing the Cause of Increased Drinking

If your pet experiences persistent increased drinking, your veterinarian may recommend a series of diagnostic tests to determine what may be the underlying cause. These tests  include:

• Physical Examination: to evaluate overall health
• Blood Tests: to evaluate overall organ function, electrolytes, thyroid levels, immune cells and blood cells.
• X-rays or Ultrasound: to evaluate urinary tract, liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands as well as possible tumors, or any other abnormal finding that could contribute to increased drinking.
• Urinalysis +/- culture: to evaluate for possible infection, urine contents and concentration

When to Seek Veterinary Care

While a single episode/day of increased drinking may not require additional workup, we still recommend contacting your veterinarian if your pet experiences:

• Frequent or persistent increased drinking (lasting more than 24 hours)
• Increased drinking accompanied by change in energy, urination, appetite, skin, vomiting/diarrhea
• Signs of dehydration (dry gums, sunken eyes)
• Known ingestion of a toxic substance
• Severe pain or distress

Treatment Options for Increased Drinking

Treatment depends highly on the underlying cause and can vary greatly. As with some diseases or concerns, modifying your pet’s water intake may not be an obtainable or realistic option as it could do more harm to them than good depending on the cause. Sometimes treatment is geared towards supportive care while treating the disease or treating the symptoms seen. Some treatment options may include:

• Supportive Care: Providing fluids (either IV or under the skin or by adding into diet) to maintain hydration
• Dietary Management: Depending on underlying cause, sometimes a diet change to a prescription or specific diet is needed.
• Medications: Treating underlying diseases and infections if diagnosed.
• Surgery: Removing tumors or correcting anatomical issues if diagnosed.
• Hospitalization: Administering intravenous fluids and intensive care if necessary.

Preventing Increased Drinking in Pets

While not all causes of increased drinking are preventable, you can take steps to minimize the risk:

• Feed a balanced, high-quality diet and avoid sudden dietary changes.
• Prevent access to toxic foods, plants, and household chemicals.
• Keep up with routine veterinary check-ups, blood testing and vaccinations once to twice yearly.
• Have water available at all times to your pet to freely drink as needed. Pets generally drink in appropriate response as their body needs fluids.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Increased drinking in pets can range from something minor that your pet can naturally correct themselves to a serious medical condition that needs medical attention. Monitoring your pet’s symptoms and seeking veterinary advice when necessary can ensure their health and well-being. If you have concerns, always consult your veterinary team to determine the best course of action for your pet.