Q: My dog, Rusty, has been drinking a lot of water lately. Should I be concerned?
Submitted by Joyce Nichols, Galva
A: While increased thirst can be very normal on a hot summer day, it can be a concern for many pet owners. Most of the time, excessive water intake (polydipsia) goes hand in hand with increased urine output (polyuria).
Have you added a new treat or changed foods lately? Sodium levels can be very high in many diets, and can lead to extra work for the kidneys, increasing urine output. Has his exercise level increased? In both cases, thirst increases to replace the lost fluids.
If you are unsure if drinking levels are inappropriate, we should quantify your pet’s water intake over 48 hours and check his urine concentration. With these simple tests, we can determine if it’s necessary to perform further diagnostic tests.
