Petriage Clinical Insights

IMPORTANT: This article, which is provided for educational purposes only, is based on published veterinary data and decades of work with pets and pet parents. The information provided here is not designed to be comprehensive but to help you avoid the pitfalls of online misinformation and most importantly, to frame the conversation you should have with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian’s perspective may differ from what is expressed here. Always consult with your veterinarian.

Excessive Drinking

Your pet could be drinking excessively for many reasons. Do not assume this behavior is due to hot outdoor temperatures, as it may be an early indicator of various medical issues. 

Recommendation  

  • Observe if excessive drinking is also accompanied by excess urination. This info will be useful for your vet.

Measure your pet's water intake.

  1. Provide plenty of water so that your pet's water bowl never runs dry. Measure, in ounces, all the water you leave out for your pet over a 24-hour period. After 24 hours, re-measure the amount remaining and subtract it from initial amount provided.
  2. Make sure your pet has no access to other sources of water, such as a toilet, water fountain, or other water bowls. Also, make sure no other pets have access to the water you are measuring.
  3. It is useful to see a pattern of excessive drinking, so repeat these measurements over 2–3 days. 

Warning 

  • If your pet drinks more than, or close to, 1 oz (30 mL) of water per pound per day, notify your vet.
    • For example, for a dog weighing 15 lb, around 15 oz per day is worrisome.