Dogs that drink excess water, far beyond what is normal, especially without cause, may be suffering from a health problem. There are various causes of excessive water intake (polydipsia) in dogs.

Generally, a dog’s water intake will depend a little on its diet. Dogs that are fed dry kibbles or salty treats have to drink more water, while dogs on a wet food diet often drink less because canned pet food already contain 60-65% water. As a rule of thumb, the water intake of healthy dog should be between 20-70 ml/kilogram body weight per day. Drinking too little water can increase a dog’s risk to developing dehydration while excessive water intake can be an important symptom of organ disease.

A dog that is drinking excessively may be possibly losing excess amounts of water for a variety of important reasons.  Primary polydipsia is characterized by excessive water intake that is not associated with illness or psychosis. Boredom may lead dos to tank up on water.

Considering that there are many potential causes of polydipsia in dogs, a thorough checkup and some laboratory tests conducted by your Myrtle Beach, SC vet can help figure out what’s causing the problem so it can be addressed. To know more, visit this website.