Why is my senior dog drinking a lot of water?
Have you ever wondered why your senior dog is drinking a lot of water? The truth is that, although excessive water consumption can result from higher temperatures, intense physical activity, or even boredom, it can also be caused by certain health conditions.
Drinking more than 100 ml of water per day per kilo of body weight is known as polydipsia and can depend on various factors, changes in diet or lifestyle, and even diseases. Below, we explain everything about why your senior dog may be drinking a lot of water so you can act accordingly and give them the help they need.
Harmless reasons why your senior dog drinks a lot of water
Although a healthy dog usually drinks between 50 and 60 ml of water per day per kilo of body weight, sometimes they may start drinking more water due to different causes, many of which are normal and harmless. Some of the most common reasons are:
- A long walk or a high level of physical activity can lead to excessive water consumption. While we should not stop our dog from drinking, it is advisable to ensure they don’t drink too much at once and that the water isn’t too cold.
- A diet low in moisture, based more on dry kibble, can increase water consumption.
- Higher temperatures can be the reason why your senior dog drinks more water.
- A younger dog usually drinks more water than an older dog.
Why is my senior dog drinking a lot of water?
Possible diseases and their symptoms. Water balance is the result of regulation between water intake and water loss through urine. If your senior dog is drinking a lot of water, it may be due to deregulated absorption or retention of water, a common symptom of many diseases.
Below we explain some of the most common conditions your older dog could suffer from. If you notice any of these symptoms in your furry best friend, or if your senior dog drinks a lot of water, don’t hesitate to take them to the vet to diagnose any issues and start the recommended treatment.
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an extremely common condition in senior dogs, being the third most common cause of death in older dogs. Due to kidney damage, dogs with CKD suffer from irreversible, progressive, and permanent loss of kidney function, producing more urine but of very low concentration.
To compensate for the fluid loss through urine, dogs with CKD drink much more water than recommended. Other symptoms of CKD are:
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Anemia
Cushing’s syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome or hyperadrenocorticism is an endocrine disease characterized by an excessive and chronic increase in glucocorticoids. This reduces the synthesis of ADH (antidiuretic hormone), increasing urine production and, in turn, water consumption.
Other symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome are:
- Increased appetite
- Obesity
- Alopecia
- Hyperpigmentation of the skin
Tumors
This condition may also be the reason why your senior dog drinks a lot of water. From the age of 9, neoplasms or tumors can excessively increase calcium levels in the blood, raising urine production and, consequently, water consumption.
Food for senior dogs from Amanova
Just like people, senior dogs have more difficulty maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and organs. For this reason, if your older dog needs a little help to stay healthy, or if you simply want to provide them with a complete, adapted, and very tasty diet, we invite you to check out Amanova’s senior dog food. This hypoallergenic food is made with 100% fresh meats and fish, providing high levels of essential fatty acids, Omega 3 and Omega 6, helping to maintain cardiovascular, cognitive, and kidney health.
