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INCREASED THIRST (POLYDIPSIA)

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  

This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Some of the causes of increased thirst are serious and may require urgent treatment, so you should seek the advice of your veterinarian as soon as possible. 

Increased thirst is a common clinical sign which can be associated with many diseases. Sometimes the underlying cause is serious, so veterinary advice should be sought as soon as possible so that an accurate diagnosis can be made, and appropriate treatment started as soon as possible.

Water is absolutely essential for animals. The amount of water that an animal drinks is controlled by centres in the brain and sometimes owners will notice an increase in water consumption. This can come on gradually, or there can be a sudden increase in the amount being drunk. Pets that spend large amounts of time outside the home (eg cats) may not be observed drink a lot if they can access water sources such as rivers, streams or water barrels.

A short lasting increase in thirst will occur to replace water lost :

  • after exercise, or 
  • following a bout of diarrhoea or vomiting

OR

  • following the consumption of dry or high salt-containing food.

There are many possible causes of prolonged increased thirst including :

  • Diabetes
  • Kidney Disease
  • Liver Disease
  • Pyometra
  • Cushings Syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism)
  • Addison's Disease (hypoadrenocorticism)
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Hypoparathyroidism

Some of these causes are serious and may require urgent treatment, so you should seek the advice of your veterinarian as soon as possible. 

Your veterinarian may need to run some tests (eg blood tests and urine tests) to determine precisely what the cause of the increased thirst is in your pet.

Many animals with an increase in thirst also pass an increased amount of urine (increased volume, and increased frequency of urination) - called polyuria. You may notice that your pet starts urinating in the house - even though it is house-trained, or urinating in unusual places.

NEVER restrict access to water if your pet is drinking a lot or urinating a lot. If you do your could become dehydrated.

 

Last updated : October 2013