Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water? Causes, Symptoms & When To Worry

Most pet owners want their dogs to be healthy and happy. Thus, when they notice certain unusual behaviors in their pets, they generally get concerned.   

Dogs should drink water throughout the day. However, increased thrust can often indicate underlying issues. There can be several reasons for excessive thirst in dogs.   

However, it is important to immediately reach out to the vet instead of analyzing “Why is my dog drinking so much water?”  

This article seeks to inform you about the condition of excessive thirst in dogs. We will also try to understand what causes this situation.  

What Is The Reason Behind Excessive Thirst? Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water?

There are many reasons why dogs generally drink excessive water. Moreover, the symptoms can often happen due to both harmless and concerning reasons.  

Let’s understand the main causes of polydipsia (excessive thirst) in dogs.  

Harmless Reasons For Polydipsia In Dogs   

The water intake of the dogs is influenced by various normal physiological factors.   

Factors such as tropical warm weather, increased physical activity, and changes in oatmeal can temporarily increase dogs’ thirst.   

Canines generally regulate their body temperature during hot, humid weather. Dogs in tropical climates generally do this to stay hydrated.  

Dogs also drink a lot of water to quench their thirst after heavy exercise. Moreover, the exercise often makes the dog sweat.   

Thus, the dog’s body tries to replenish the lost water by drinking an adequate amount.  

Diet can also make a dog drink excessive water due to changes in their diet.   

Food like dry kibbles can often make your dog drink a high amount of water. Thus, you can balance homemade food and dry kibbles.   

Moreover, these reasons tend to be harmless. However, you should definitely go for a veterinary checkup. There can be underlying reasons.  

What Are The Potential Medical Conditions That Leads To Excessive Thirst In The Dogs?

The dogs’ excessive thirst is often not due to common causes. Thus, this can indicate an underlying health issue.   

The following reasons can often cause your dog to drink more water than usual.   

1. Diabetes Mellitus   

The canine body is often unable to regulate blood sugar levels. Moreover, the vets call this condition diabetes mellitus.   

The kidneys work really hard to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. Thus, dogs urinate more frequently.   

Thus, the dog drinks increased water to replace the fluids lost. Hence, these symptoms are among the early signs of diabetes in dogs.   

You can often find other symptoms, such as weight loss and lethargy. Thus, this is the time to consult with a vet immediately.   

2. Kidney Problems 

The kidneys filter the waste from the bloodstream. Furthermore, it maintains fluid balance in the canine body. 

The dogs drink more water because their bodies are unable to eliminate toxins through urine. Furthermore, your pooch may show other symptoms, such as decreased appetite, rapid weight loss, and vomiting. 

3. Cushing’s Disease 

The adrenal gland in a canine’s body often produces too much cortisol. Thus, this affects the kidney’s ability to concentrate urine. Thus, dogs urinate more than they should.  

On the other hand, the body consumes a large amount of water to replenish fluid loss.  

Doctors also call this disease hyperadrenocorticism. Furthermore, you can see several other symptoms, such as a potbelly appearance. 

Additionally, the dog may show behavioral changes, such as excessive panting. 

What Are The Behavioral Causes Behind Increased Thirst? Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water?

Dogs often drink too much water, not because of any internal or physical problems. They can do it as a behavioral issue. 

1. Boredom And Anxious Behavior  

Boredom and anxiety can often lead to certain behavioral patterns in the dogs. Dogs often drink water to deal with boredom and stress.  

This mostly happens as dogs do not get enough mental and physical stimulation.  

A professional trainer and behaviorist can easily help in these situations.  

The dog may give up on this behavior when it is given interactive toys and attention. 

2. Compulsive Drinking: Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water? 

Dogs often develop certain types of compulsive behaviors. Moreover, this is due to excessive compulsive tendencies or other anxiety factors. 

Thus, this results in obsessive-compulsive behaviors in dogs. Thus, you should immediately take your dog to the vet or a behavioral specialist. 

When Should I Take My Dog To The Vet? Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water?

Occasionally, the dogs often drink more water than usual. Hence, this is absolutely normal.  

However, when this persists for a long time, it often indicates underlying health issues.  

Thus, you should be observant of this behavior of the dog and note factors like  

• Is the increased water intake sudden, or has it increased gradually? 

• Other symptoms like increased urination, increased ot decreased appetite, pot belly, lethargy, and several others. 

• Recent changes in the dog’s diet and activity levels can also increase thirst. 

Take these factors into consideration to better understand the situation. Go to the vet if the symptoms persist for a long time. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Here are the answers to some of the most asked questions that people also ask, along with “Why is my dog drinking so much water?”  

1. Should I Be Concerned If My Dog Is Drinking A Lot Of Water?  

No, you should not be immediately concerned if your dog is drinking a lot of water. 

You should observe other symptoms such as lethargy, pot belly, increased urination, and others.  

Moreover, these symptoms can indicate underlying causes. 

2. Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water But Acting Normal? 

Dogs often drink a lot of water as an impulsive behavior. On the other hand, excessive water intake can also indicate underlying health issues. 

You should take your dog to a behavioral specialist as well as a vet to identify the reason. 

3. How Many Bowls Of Water Should A Dog Drink A Day? 

The dog should drink at least 50-60 ml of water per 1kg of body weight.  

Thus, pet parents should first measure their bowl’s size. Hence, provide water to their dog accordingly. 

4. Do Dogs Drink More Water As They Get Older?  

Yes, dogs often drink more water in their old age. Moreover, dogs’ kidneys become less efficient with age.  

Thus, it drinks water to flush impurities from the body. Additionally, dry mouth and other conditions can also lead to excessive water drinking.