by Maple Herzog

Created on: August 11, 2009   Last Updated: September 29, 2009

The formal definition of excessive thirst in dogs is polydipsia. It is usually accompanied by excessive urinating as well, known as polyuria. This complex is known in veterinary medicine as PD/PU. While excessive thirst alone is no indicator of changes in your pet's health, a combination of both can indicate that something is amiss.

According to veterinary textbooks, normal dogs drink about 20 - 70ml of water per kg of body weight a day, depending on activity levels and age. Young and physically active puppies that frequently overexert themselves might pant more, leading to loss of bodily fluids hence increasing their need for water. Likewise, pets on a high protein diet may find themselves drinking more water and urinating more frequently since kidneys work a little harder to process high protein levels. Any deviation from a dog's normal drinking habits may indicate that they have the PD/PU syndrome.

The PD/PU syndrome can happen for two reasons - physical or behavioral. Behavioral PD/PU in dogs is caused most frequently by a psychological disorder known as stereotypy. In humans, this is known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Stereotypy leads a dog to consume water obsessively even though he/she is not thirsty. This sort of behavioral abnormality should be looked into by a veterinary professional to ensure that there are no underlying illnesses like tumor in the brain or mild epilepsy.

In some dogs however, the PD/PU syndrome can be an indicator of an underlying physical malady. Diseases such as chronic kidney failure, diabetes, dysfunctional adrenal glands or liver disease can contribute to polydypsia. This holds especially true in older dogs and dogs with a compromised immune system. Certain dog breeds and genetic makeup of the dog are also more susceptible to PD/PU.

Chronic renal failure is also known as chronic kidney failure and is common in older dogs and dog breeds like terriers and spaniels. Kidney failure happens when the kidneys no longer respond to the anti-diurectic hormone (ADH) that is released by the pituitary gland in the brain. ADH helps to make urine more concentrate and regulates waste disposal in the body. When the body no longer responds to the ADH, there is increased urination as water that is consumed is discarded almost immediately (PU). The dog then makes up for the excessive urination by increasing intake of water (PD). The causes of kidney failure can include cancer, immune system deficiencies, buildup of environmental toxins

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