{"id":9921,"date":"2022-11-14T13:13:29","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T13:13:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/blog\/uncategorized\/why-is-my-dog-drinking-so-much-water-when-to-call-the-vet\/"},"modified":"2023-03-30T11:10:31","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T11:10:31","slug":"why-is-my-dog-drinking-so-much-water-when-to-call-the-vet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/en-us\/blog\/puppy-health\/new-puppy-health\/why-is-my-dog-drinking-so-much-water-when-to-call-the-vet\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is My Dog Drinking So Much Water?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you got a thirsty pup? Dogs often drink a lot of water, especially on hot days, or if they\u2019re fed dry food with little moisture. Always remember water is a basic need that dogs should be given access to all the time. Rest assured though drinking a lot of water isn\u2019t usually a cause for concern. I mean we\u2019re always being told to drink more water aren\u2019t we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think your dog is drinking too much water, and you\u2019re wondering if you should be worried, then we\u2019ll do our best to explain the facts here. We\u2019ll go through possible answers to \u2018\u2018why is my dog drinking so much water?\u2019, when a thirsty dog might need to see the vet, how you can tell if your dog is drinking too much water, and what your Vet might do in order to find out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


If you\u2019re looking for help with training a new puppy then you\u2019re in the perfect place. Zigzag<\/a> has a personalized training program based on your puppy\u2019s breed and how old they are. We deliver the right lessons at the right time to cover all of your puppy\u2019s socialization and developmental milestones plus we have a team of professional dog trainers <\/a>on hand to help you through, whenever you need them, 7 days a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Bekky Bekks<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why is my dog drinking so much water?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, back to your dog’s drinking problem. Your dog might be drinking lots of water because they\u2019re hot and thirsty, because they find it fun, because they have a health condition, or alternatively just because we all need to drink a certain amount of water to survive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your dog needs to drink water due to their diet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dry food like kibble is\u2026let’s face it dry, same goes for dehydrated food. If your dog is fed these diets they will need to drink more water than a dog fed a wet food or raw diet<\/a>. They have a low moisture content so your dog will need to drink more water to stay hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On hot days your dog will drink a lot of water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dogs get thirsty just like we do, so it makes sense that on hot days they\u2019re going to want to drink more water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very active dogs will drink more water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your dog has been running around, or exercising<\/a>, then they\u2019ll drink more, they\u2019re thirsty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your dog might enjoy the feeling of water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some puppies play around or dig in their water bowl<\/a> as well as drink a lot of the water, it\u2019s just a bit of a game some dogs enjoy doing, Labrador<\/a> owners will definitely relate! Playing in the water bowl is a way of relieving boredom, but it can get messy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to restricted access to water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dogs should always have access to fresh drinking water. If you restrict water, it can make your dog drink more and gulp it down when they do get access to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medication can cause your dog to be more thirsty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Certain medications will cause excessive thirst, so if your dog is on medication such as steroids and diuretics, then that could be a reason that they\u2019re drinking so much water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your dog might have a health problem<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Illnesses with excessive thirst as a symptom include Diabetes, Cushing’s, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Kidney disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Courtney Clayton<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When is it time to see a vet for excessive thirst in dogs?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although drinking a certain amount of water is perfectly healthy, here are some signs to watch out for, as they can indicate something more worrying. We recommend always contacting your vet if you\u2019re at all worried. Your dog\u2019s health is important!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. If the excessive thirst comes on suddenly, and you can\u2019t see a reason for it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2.  If your dog is peeing a lot, and perhaps licking or scratching at their behind.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. If your dog is struggling to pee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. If you see their urine change color or have blood in it<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. If your dog is sick or has diarrhea<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    If you see other signs that your puppy is unwell, like they are panting or breathing fast<\/a>, then you should get in contact with your vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to tell if your dog is drinking water excessively?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you want to know if your dog is drinking too much, there are some ways to tell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A dog usually drinks between 50 and 100 ml per kg of body weight per 24 hour period . This roughly translates to a normally active 12kg Cockapoo<\/a> drinking anything from around 600ml – 1.2 litres per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This figure will be adjusted depending on your pup\u2019s activity level, if it\u2019s a moderate temperature where you live, and whether they eat wet or dry dog food. Dogs fed a dry diet will drink more water. A raw\/BARF<\/a>, home cooked<\/a> or wet food diet will usually mean they drink less due to the larger moisture content in the food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can find out if your dog is drinking too much water by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n