Question from Gurnos Tenants Residents
My dog is 14 and is drinking a lot, and seems to be starving to the point of raiding my Shopping bag, something she has never done before. She has Arthrities and sometimes her back end seems to be wobbly.
Answer from Shanika Winters MRCVS online vet
Thank you for your interesting question which has four parts, I will discuss one at a time.
Your dog is drinking a lot.
The first thing to do when you have noticed that your pet is drinking more is to work out the actual amount of water being drunk. This is most easily done by measuring out how much water you put into the water bowl, also how much is left each time you change the water. It is best to work out how much your pet is drinking over a few days as this will give an average amount per day taking into account differences on each day. We usually consider a dog to be drinking too much if water intake is more than 100ml/kg/day that would work out as around 2L for a 20kg dog (a medium sized dog). So when you discuss your pet’s water intake with your vet they will want to know the amount your pet drinks a day, its weight and if there have been any changes to your pet’s diet. Dry food diets tend to lead to pets drinking more water than wet food (tins or pouches).
Your vet will also want to know if your pet is passing urine as normal or if this has changed in amount or frequency, often it is helpful to collect a sample of urine in a clean container and take this to your vet for analysis.
Increased drinking is called polydipsia (PD) and can be an indication many conditions including kidney disease, infection, hormone imbalances and diabetes. It is really important to discuss any other symptoms your pet is showing with your vet so that the most appropriate urine and blood tests can be performed to find out the cause of your pets PD.
Your dog is raiding your shopping bags.
When a pet has an increased hunger we call this polyphagia (PP). It is normal for dogs to eat more food when their energy needs go up e.g. when the weather is cold, if they are more active than usual or during the later stages of pregnancy or lactation (milk production). So provided there is no obvious reason for your pet to be eating more this is definitely something worth discussing with your vet.
Ideally if your pet is weighed regularly and records have been kept of this any changes will help to make a diagnosis as to what is causing your pets PP. Some of the conditions mentioned for PD can also lead to PP.
Arthritis and a wobbly back end.
Arthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints which is very common in pets as they get older. There is increasing damage to the joints which can lead to difficulty standing and walking as well as pain. Your vet will diagnose arthritis based on the signs your pet is showing such as difficulty getting up and walking, wasting away of muscles, physical examination plus or minus x-rays. Often the joints feel stiff and your pet will object to their joints being moved through a normal range of movements.
The hips, elbows and back are common sites for arthritis and may well lead to the wobbly back end that you describe your dog as having. There are other causes for a wobbly back end such as spinal disease other than arthritis, general weakness and poor circulation.
After discussing the points you have raised as regards your dog I think it would be advisable for you to take your dog for a full examination by your vet, please take as much of the extra information you can to help a diagnosis to be made so that your pet can receive the best treatment possible.
A few simple blood tests and or x-rays will help your vet to work out how best to treat your pet, we do not like to just assume that changes are due to a pet ageing. Where possible we want to provide the best quality of life for all animals. I hope that this answer has been helpful to you and that your dog soon returns to a good quality of life.
Shanika Winters MRCVS (online vet)
Discussion
I foumf a dog he has been starved and very malnourished he has been drinking but refuses to eat anything at all ive tried giving him rice and eggs mashed up and he still want eat it
OK, get him checked out by a vet ASAP: if he’s starved, there must be an underlying reason why he won’t eat – for example, jaw fractures or oesophageal disease.
My dog is 10 she drinking two bowls of Water a day and she got bad breath she a small cocker
Right, then I think that needs checking out – drinking more than 90ml of water per kg is almost always a sign of a health problem, and increased thirst with bad breath in an older dog might suggest kidney disease. I’d suggest a check up with your vet sooner rather than later!
Hi my Dalmatian who’s now 12 seems to be drinking more lately so I’ve measured the last few days, he seems to drink just under 2 litres a day but he does weigh 26 kg so this is okay isn’t it.
In general, more than 90ml per kg per day is abnormal; for a 26kg dog, 2L is just within the “normal” range. However, any sudden change in an older dog is always worth checking out, because many of the conditions that cause increased thirst start slowly, and if caught early, can be treated more easily.
Sorry it’s a Yorkie
My dog had pancreatic he is a Yorker but eating & drinking as normal is this ok
If you suspect pancreatitis, I think he really does need veterinary care.
My dog 10 year old Shiz Tzu has all of a sudden started to be very slow on a walk and finds it hard to get up stairs. Vet has completed an assessments and blood tests as he’s also lost weight. Everything seems fine. His back tensed a bit when pressed so prescribed pain relief. Now he’s drinking a lot the last day or so. A lot more than usual, he’s dowing 2 bowls of water each time???
I think that needs checking out urgently – some painkillers can cause problems with the kidneys, and often the first sign is an increase in thirst. I’d advise making an appointment to get him seen by the vet again, as soon as you can.