One more accident in the dog’s kennel… Another flooded cat box... The dog or cat is swilling down its water like a college student on Spring Break. This is becoming ridiculous. Is this pet just being ornery because it is away from home, or could there be a medical problem you need to bring to the owner’s attention?

At first blush, the pet appears to be the poster child of good health: drinking well, lively, and may have even lost some weight since its last visit. And then the doubts start to haunt you. Is what you’re seeing normal? How much water should a pet be drinking per day? Does it need to be seen by a veterinarian ASAP or can it wait? What is going on?

The medical terminology for drinking excessive amounts of water and copious urination is polydipsia and polyuria (PD/PU). There are myriad conditions that can result in these signs. What should you do? Don’t ignore what you are seeing. These symptoms won’t typically go away on their own, and they can indicate life-threatening conditions. Strongly recommend that the pet owner makes an appointment to see their veterinarian – now.

How much water should a dog or cat drink per day? The answer can vary tremendously based on several factors: activity level, ambient temperature, whether they are eating canned or dry food, body size, and underlying medical conditions. As a general guideline, a 10-pound cat will need about nine to 10 fluid ounces per day. Dogs need around one-half to one ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. Puppies and kittens need more on a daily basis than their mature counterparts.

Cats are notoriously poor water drinkers. Their wild carnivorous ancestors received the lion’s share of their per diem liquid nutrition from the prey they ate. Our domesticated felines, if they consume mostly canned food, will need to drink little fresh water. Canned food is approximately 70 to 80% water. Ask any ailurophile, and they will tell you that their furry house mates are nothing like dogs. This is especially true when it comes to their innate desire to drink water. If they become dehydrated, it will take an extended amount of time for them to imbibe enough water to rehydrate themselves.

Even pets that are exhibiting signs of PU/PD can become dehydrated. Though your intentions may be good, don’t attempt to rehydrate a pet by forcing extra water into a pet with an eye dropper or turkey baster. You run the risk of the pet inhaling the water and developing pneumonia. The most effective way to deliver needed water is by a veterinarian, either with intravenous fluids or hydrating solutions given under the skin.

How can you tell if a pet’s hydration status is normal? Touch your finger to its gums above its teeth. It should be moist and the tissue glistening. If it feels dry and tacky, or if you gently pull up the skin at its shoulder blades and it stays raised for more than a few seconds, the pet is dehydrated and needs medical attention.

What medical conditions can lead to PU/PD? The primary culprits are a bladder infection, fever, kidney disease, liver conditions, diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), and endocrine maladies such as Cushing disease or overactive thyroids.

A pet affected with a UTI (urinary tract infection) may strain to urinate or have increased urinary frequency. Blood may be visible in the urine. It may overly groom its genital area and have changes in its housetraining/litter box habits.

Checking for a fever requires that you get a core temperature. Feeling the ears or nose is not an accurate indicator. A lubricated digital thermometer is gently inserted into the pet’s rectum. Normal is 101 to 102.5 OF. Do not administer aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents in an attempt to drop an elevated temperature. They can have dire side effects.

A veterinarian will need to run blood and urine tests in order to diagnose conditions affecting the liver, kidneys, or endocrine glands. It can be frustrating when the results are not definitive, and additional testing, such as radiographs (X-rays), ultrasounds, or other lab tests, are required. As with human medicine, a series of investigative steps is sometimes needed. Once the cause has been determined, the treatment may involve antibiotics, specialized diets or medications, insulin injections, or surgery. There may be nothing that can be done if the condition is too far advanced. In that case, supportive measures may be all that can be done to keep the pet comfortable.

Preventive care is the best way to ensure that a pet ages successfully. Even if a pet does not seem ill, having it examined by a veterinarian at least once a year is strongly recommended. Most veterinarians will suggest that all pets, starting at seven years of age, have a yearly blood and urine test. This allows the veterinarian to monitor trends in values and address any changes before they become catastrophic. Conditions caught early are usually easier and less expensive to treat and have better outcomes.

Though there is no fountain of youth, providing fresh water daily and monitoring a pet’s water intake and urine output can help to ensure that it lives as good a quality of life for as long as possible.

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