Dogs need to stay well hydrated, just like humans. Lots of things can influence the amount of water your dog needs to drink each day, including exercise level, age, and even medical conditions. However, sometimes a dog might start drinking more than normal, and it might be hard to know if that indicates a problem. If you’ve noticed behavioral changes in your dog and are wondering, “Why is my dog drinking more water than usual?”, here’s what to consider and some reasons why your dog might be drinking more water than usual:

How Much Water Should a Dog Drink?

There’s no exact set amount of water that a dog should drink because it all depends on factors specific to your dog. However, there are some basic guidelines to follow. A good base guideline to determine your dog’s water needs is about 1 ounce of water for every 1 pound of their body weight. So, if your dog weighs approximately 50 pounds, a good guideline is to ensure at least 50 ounces of water a day.

However, if your dog is really active or you live in a warm climate, they should be drinking more water. Your dog also should be drinking more water during the summer months, especially if they spend a lot of time outside or heavily exercise. This is an important summer safety tip for dogs that all owners should be aware of.

Puppies and dogs that are nursing also may need more water than the general guideline. If your dog normally eats canned dog food or homemade food that has more water in it, they might not need to drink quite as much. Just make sure your dog has easy access to clean and fresh water each day by setting up a water and feeding station for your dog.

How to Determine How Much Your Dog Drinks Daily

If you want to know how much your dog drinks each day, you will need to keep track of how much water is in the bowl and how often you fill the water bowl. You can also be more precise by measuring the amount of water in the bowl in the morning and then measuring how much is left at the end of the evening. You can also purchase a dog bowl that has measurements on the side. However, if your dog tends to push or spill their bowl, you will not have a precise measurement.

If you notice your dog begins to drink a lot more water than normal or is taking more trips out to the bathroom, you should schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. This could be a sign of a urinary tract infection or other underlying health conditions that need to be addressed.

Why Is My Dog Drinking More Water Than Usual?

There are a few different factors that might determine why your dog is drinking more water than usual. Some are environmental factors, while others might be medical reasons. Here are a few reasons why your dog is drinking more water than usual:

1. Environmental and Physiological Factors
2. Age
3. Certain Medications
4. Frequent Exercise or Increased Activity
5. Health Conditions

1. Environmental and Physiological Factors

Just like humans, the amount of water a dog drinks typically depends on normal physiological or environmental reasons. Factors affecting how much water a dog is drinking can include:

• Activity Level
• Warm Weather
• Dry Air
• Diet

Activity Level

If your dog is more active, they will naturally require more water than a dog that is a bit more of a couch potato. If you’re unsure about how much exercise your dog needs, this is one of the questions to ask at your dog’s first vet visit.

Warm Weather

During warmer weather or humid weather, dogs often drink more water because it helps regulate their body temperature. Staying hydrated is important for a dog’s overall health and well-being.

Dry Air

However, dogs also need to stay well hydrated during the winter. Unless you live in an extremely humid climate, winter weather often means the air is drier. If this is the case, dogs can become dehydrated, even if it’s not hot. Making sure your dog has plenty of water year-round, even during the winter, is an important winter safety tip for dogs. Your dog will also need water before and after winter exercise.

Diet

Diet may also determine how much water your dog needs. If your dog eats dry kibble, they should have more water to stay hydrated. If they eat canned or homemade food that has a higher water content, they may not drink quite as much. You can also help your dog stay hydrated with some of the best fruits and veggies for dogs, like watermelon.

2. Age

A dog’s age may also determine how much water they drink. Puppies’ kidneys do not concentrate their urine as well as an older dog’s, meaning they need to go to the bathroom more. Because they go to the bathroom more, they need to drink more water.

Sometimes, elderly dogs may drink more water or less because of cognitive decline. Also, some medical issues, like canine diabetes or kidney disease, might cause an older dog to drink more. If your older dog hasn’t been diagnosed with any of these issues, but is drinking more than normal, give your vet a call to schedule an appointment.

3. Certain Medications

Sometimes, certain medications may increase a dog’s thirst. These medications typically include:

• Corticosteroids
• Anti-seizure medications
• Diuretics

If your dog is on any of these medications, and you’ve noticed them drinking more than normal, this is most likely the cause. If you are still concerned, talk to your veterinarian.

4. Frequent Exercise or Increased Activity

Any fairly active dog will need more water to rehydrate. If your dog’s activity level has increased, you may notice them drinking more than they did before. If you have a puppy, they may drink more than an adult due to their higher activity, especially after bouts of play before they take another nap.

5. Health Conditions

There are some medical issues that can cause your dog to drink more water than usual. These health conditions include:

• Electrolyte Imbalances
• Dehydration
• Vomiting or Diarrhea
• Hyperthermia or Fever
• Kidney Failure
• Diabetes
• Diabetes Insipidus

Electrolyte Imbalances

If your dog has an electrolyte imbalance, they may have increased thirst and urination. If there is an imbalance of potassium and sodium, the kidneys will not work properly. Electrolyte imbalance can be caused by too much sodium in a dog’s diet, certain toxins, dehydration, and other medical conditions.

Along with an increased thirst, you may notice vomiting, diarrhea, a lack of appetite, and lethargy. More serious signs may include neurological issues, like ataxia in dogs or seizures. If you notice any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet. If the electrolyte imbalance is caused by a medical issue, that will need to be treated alongside the electrolyte imbalance.

Dehydration

There are a few things that can cause dehydration in your dog, which can lead to increased thirst. Things such as excessive exercise, heat, and illness, such as gastritis in dogs, may all cause dehydration.

Symptoms that your dog is dehydrated include excessive panting, lethargy, bright red gums, and skin tenting. If your dog becomes severely dehydrated, it needs to be addressed immediately. Severe dehydration can be fatal, so if your dog has access to water and still seems dehydrated, make sure to get your dog to the veterinarian as soon as you can.

Vomiting or Diarrhea

If your dog is vomiting or experiencing diarrhea, they can become dehydrated, which leads to excessive thirst. However, make sure that your dog doesn’t drink too much all at once because that can actually cause more vomiting. If signs of gastrointestinal distress are very frequent or persist, make sure to take your dog to the veterinarian.

Hyperthermia or Fever

When a dog’s body temperature becomes elevated, they may drink more water. A change in body temperature can be caused by inflammation, infection, excessive exercise, heat stroke, or ingesting a toxin. Signs of fever in dogs include excessive panting, lethargy, or bright, red gums. If any of these occur, call your veterinarian immediately.

Kidney Failure

If your dog is drinking more water than usual, experiencing frequent urination, and showing other symptoms, they may be experiencing kidney failure. This chronic condition means that their kidneys are no longer able to filter waste products out of the body efficiently. As the toxins filter out of the blood, they take excess water, leading to increased urination, which leads to dehydration and more water intake.

There is a range of severity in kidney failure. If kidney failure is caught in a very early stage, your dog may only need monitoring and a few diet changes. If a dog is in more severe kidney failure, they may need to be hospitalized for more extensive treatment.

Diabetes

Another condition that may lead to excessive thirst in dogs is canine diabetes. Diabetes causes the pancreas to not make enough insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. If there’s too much sugar, the body tries to get rid of it through urine, taking water with it.

When a dog has diabetes, the first thing owners usually notice is excessive urination and thirst. Other signs can include lethargy, weakness, a lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or an abnormal smell to their breath. If you notice any of these signs, make sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Diabetes can be treated, but if left untreated, it can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that can be fatal.

Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes insipidus may also cause increased water intake and a large amount of urine. This is a rare condition that causes a dog to become dehydrated, despite drinking a lot of water. While this condition does not require immediate medical attention, you should take your dog to the vet anyway. A veterinarian will be able to determine whether your dog has diabetes or diabetes insipidus and determine the best next steps.

So if you’re wondering, “Why is my dog drinking more water than usual?”, these may be a few of the reasons. Unless your dog’s activity has increased or the weather has gotten drier or warmer, give your vet a call. They’ll be able to give your dog a check-up and look for any underlying issues that may be causing your dog to drink more water than usual.