As a general rule, the daily intake of water in dogs should not exceed the limit of 100 milliliters of water per kilogram of weight. However, sometimes we can see an increase in water consumption in dogs, a sign known as polydipsia. In the case of older dogs, this symptom usually appears as a result of a series of pathologies that are especially prevalent in older animals.
If you think your older dog drinks a lot of water and you want to know the possible causes and what to do, don't hesitate to join us in the next article on our site
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a very important process in geriatric dogs. So much so, that it is the third leading cause of death in older dogs. Therefore, if you are wondering why your elderly dog drinks a lot of water, you should pay attention to this section, since CKD is one of the most frequent causes.
Dogs with CKD suffer kidney damage that triggers a progressive, permanent and irreversible loss of kidney function As a consequence of functional deterioration of the kidney, numerous clinical signs appear, among which polyuria (increased urine volume) and polydipsia (increased water consumption) stand out.
Polyuria/polydipsia appear because, by reducing the number of nephrons (functional units of the kidney), the surviving nephrons increase their filtration as a compensatory mechanism. Consequently, osmotically active solutes accumulate in the renal tubules, preventing water reabsorption and increasing urine output To avoid dehydration, dogs try compensate for increased urine output by drinking a larger volume of water So if your older dog urinates a lot and drinks a lot of water, this may be the answer.
However, in addition to these clinical signs, dogs with CKD may present:
- Depression
- Anorexy
- Weightloss
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Encephalopathy
- Uremic stomatitis
- Bleeding diathesis
- Anemia
- Blindness
- Bone changes
Treatment
As we have mentioned, the loss of renal function in these patients is irreversible. Unfortunately, There is no curative therapy, but we can only limit ourselves to slowing down the progression of the disease through symptomatic and nephroprotective treatment. Specifically, the treatment is based on two pillars:
- Medical treatment: aimed at correcting hydro-electrolyte imbalances and systemic hypertension.
- Kidney diet: low in protein, sodium and potassium, and rich in omega 3 fatty acids, soluble fiber and antioxidants.
Cushing's syndrome
Hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing's syndrome is one of the most common endocrine diseases in dogs, especially in older dogs.
This is a process characterized by the existence of excessive and chronic levels of glucocorticoids and, to a lesser extent, of mineralocorticoids. Mineralocorticoid excess decreases antidiuretic hormone (ADH) synthesis, leading to increased urine volume (polyuria). Compensatingly, dogs increase their water intake to avoid dehydration.
Although polyuria and polydipsia are the most frequent signs in Cushing's syndrome, it is also possible to find other symptoms such as:
- Polyphagia: increased appetite
- Weight gain
- Lethargy and exercise intolerance
- Abdomen pendulum
- Thin Skin
- Bilateral and symmetrical alopecia
- Skin hyperpigmentation
- Calcinosis cutis
- Panting
Treatment
Your treatment has a different approach depending on whether it is a pituitary or adrenal Cushing:
- Pituitary Cushing: the treatment of choice is trilostane, a drug that reversibly reduces cortisol synthesis.
- Cushing adrenal: Requires pharmacological treatment with trilostane, followed by surgical treatment (adrenalectomy).
Mellitus diabetes
Around 1 in 500 dogs suffer from diabetes mellitus, with type 1 diabetes being the most common in this species. Specifically, dogs of middle and older age are the most likely to develop the disease, along with unneutered females and some breeds such as the beagle, the poodle or the schnauzer.
Type I diabetes occurs as a result of a primary injury to the pancreas, which prevents pancreatic cells from producing insulin As a consequence, the cells are not able to capture the glucose present in the blood and its levels increase (hyperglycemia). When it exceeds a threshold, glucose is filtered by the kidney, dragging water and increasing the volume of urine (polyuria). As a consequence, the body responds by increasing water intake (polydipsia) to avoid dehydration.
The clinical picture of diabetic patients is characterized by “the four P's”. Two of them, polyuria/polydipsia, have already been mentioned. Added to these are polyphagia (greater appetite) and weight lossTherefore, if your older dog drinks a lot of water, eats normally but loses weight, he may have diabetes.
Treatment
Despite being a chronic pathology for which there is no curative treatment, correct therapeutic management allows diabetic dogs to enjoy a good quality of life. Specifically, treatment should be based on:
- Insulin Delivery.
- Dietary management: low-fat diet (<15% fat), high fiber (15-22% fiber) and with normal protein levels (20% protein).
- Regular Exercise.
Tumors
Tumors or neoplasms are geriatric diseases whose incidence increases progressively with increasing age. Specifically, in dogs, the average age of presentation is 9 years.
Some tumors, such as lymphosarcomas, carcinomas or adenocarcinomas of the anal sacs, tend to produce hypercalcaemia (increased calcium in blood) by releasing or interacting with hormones responsible for regulating blood calcium levels. This hypercalcaemia can cause, among other things, an increased urine production (polyuria) and water consumption(polydipsia). Therefore, if you are wondering why my older dog drinks a lot of water, you should know that one of the differential synoptics that must be taken into account is tumors.
Primary hyperparathyroidism
Primary hyperparathyroidism is an endocrine disease that affects elderly animals (average 11 years), mainly breeds such as the Labrador retriever, the German shepherd or the Keeshond.
It occurs as a result of an injury to the parathyroid gland, which alters the production of parathormone (PTH) and causes an increase in blood calcium levels(hypercalcemia).
Hypercalcaemia causes a very marked increase in urine output and water consumption. In addition, it is possible to observe:
- Weakness
- Exercise intolerance
- Anorexy
- Vomiting
- Depression
- Stupor
Treatment
In cases of severe hypercalcaemia, it is necessary to lower blood calcium levels through fluid therapy,corticoids, furosemide and bisphosphonates After that, it is necessary to perform a surgical treatment (parathyroidectomy) to eliminate the cause of the pathology.
As you have been able to verify, all the causes that cause an older dog to drink more water than normal and urinate more must be treated by a specialist, which is why it is essential to go to the veterinary center at the first symptom.
