What Are The Causes Of Excessive Thirst In Dogs?

Excessive thirst in dogs, known as Polydipsia, is not an inherently bad thing. Dogs can be especially thirsty on certain days and at certain times without it being serious.

But in cases where your dog is drinking more than 100 ml per kg of their body weight daily for days on end, it could be a sign of an issue to pay attention to. Here are 8 potential causes:

Diabetes Mellitus

Common in overweight dogs, this condition is characterized by an inability to produce sufficient amounts of insulin to turn food into glucose.

Liver Disease

More common in older dogs, a disorder of the liver can prevent the body from performing standard, necessary functions.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Known also as hypophosphatemia, this condition is typically caused by a lack of potassium and excess calcium.

Kidney Issues

When a dog’s kidneys can no longer flush toxins away from the body, their water balance becomes thrown off-kilter. This can lead to kidney failure.

Diabetes Insipidus

This rare canine metabolic disorder changes how their body uses water, sometimes making them unable to hold any hydration.

Medication

Side effects of medication can be complicated, and some may induce thirst.

Adrenal Issues

A disease that affects a dog’s adrenal hormones, such as Addison’s or Cushing’s disease, can cause dehydration.

Infection

Dogs with infections typically also have fevers, which cause dehydration.

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