In this post we will talk about water consumption by dogs, and when excessive water consumption associated with reduced ingestion of food can be considered a health problem for dogs. Some of the most common diseases for these symptoms will be discussed.
Dog drinking lots of water and not eating, should I be worried?
A dog should not stop eating, loss of appetite in dogs can indicate some diseases, so the dog should be taken to the veterinarian to carry out some tests to diagnose such a disease.
And what about water consumption? Several factors can influence water consumption, such as the environment, temperature, among others. However, when increased water consumption is associated with loss of appetite, it can indicate some diseases.
Some diseases of the dog that drinks too much water and stops eating:
- Hyperthyroidism;
- Kidney diseases;
- Hypoadrenocorticism;
- Pyometra.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a disease that is characterized by the hypersecretion of thyroid hormones due to an enlarged thyroid gland.
Hyperthyroidism is rare in dogs and is related to tumors or tumor metastasis that affect lymph nodes near the thyroid gland.
Clinical signs are appetite loss, increased water consumption, difficulty swallowing, coughing, weight loss, dyspnea, hoarseness and vomiting.
Treatment can be done with the surgical removal of tumors from the gland and tumors adjacent to it, and the dog must be supplemented with thyroid hormones.
Kidney diseases
Kidney diseases are characterized by the inability of the kidneys to perform their physiological functions. Kidney disease can be classified as acute, when there is a sudden and rapid loss of kidney function, or chronic, when the kidney loses function slowly, progressively and irreversible.
The causes are related to Kidney cell damages. As in the case of some genetic alterations, natural degeneration caused by dogs old age, some infections such as leptospirosis, parasites that can replicate in the kidneys and the ingestion of toxic products.
The most frequent symptoms are appetite loss, vomiting, increased water intake, increased urination, in more advanced cases, mouth and nose ulcers, strong odor breath, weight loss and seizures can be observed.
The treatment is conservative and should be done immediately after the disease diagnosis. Usually the dog is hospitalized and receives medication to reduce symptoms in addition to hydration and food supplements.
Hypoadrenocorticism
Hypoadrenocorticism is an uncommon disease in dogs. Hypoadrenocorticism is characterized by a reduction in the production of the adrenal gland hormones.
The disease can be divided into primary, when there is aggression of the adrenal gland itself, or secondary, when there is damage to other glands such as the pituitary gland, which reduces the production of hormones that stimulate the adrenal hormone production.
In dogs, primary hypoadrenocorticism is also known as Addison’s disease. This disease has no well-defined cause, but it is already known that some autoimmune disorders can lead to damage to the adrenal gland, thus affecting its hormone production.
The most frequent symptoms are appetite loss, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, increased water intake, increased urination and hypothermia.
Treatment needs to be started quickly and basically consists of hormone replacement and conservative care such as animal hydration and food supplementation.
Pyometra
Pyometra is an infectious disease that occurs in the female dog’s uterus. Pyometra can be characterized as open, when the animal’s cervix remains relaxed, leading to drainage of uterine secretion (usually a purulent secretion); and closed pyometra, when the animal’s cervix remains closed, keeping the secretions contained in the uterus.
Pyometra happens after heat, when the uterus of the female dog prepares to receive an embryo, thus it suffers an immunosuppression that causes bacteria to proliferate causing pyometra.
The most frequent symptoms are appetite loss, vomiting, increased water consumption, increased urination, fever, listlessness, weight loss, and diarrhea.
After diagnosis, treatment needs to be started as soon as possible. The treatment is surgical, with the removal of the affected uterus. And in the post-surgical period, the animal can be under observation, receiving the necessary hydration, food support and medications such as anti-inflammatory and antibiotics.
And when water consumption does not indicate a disease?
Dogs should consume about 40 to 60 mls of water per kilo of weight. Often the animal is consuming the normal amount of water that can be misinterpreted by the owner who thinks the animal is drinking too much water.
To confirm whether there is actually an increase in water intake, the animal’s daily water consumption should be measured. And if the animal is ingesting excessive amounts of water, a veterinarian should be consulted to carry out tests to certify the health of the animal.
Dogs’ water consumption tends to increase in warmer seasons, or when there are changes in the environment. If the animal does not show any other symptoms, the tutor should not worry. But if the animal stops eating or shows any other symptoms, the veterinarian should be consulted.
Conclusion
With this post it was presented the reasons why dogs ingest a lot of water and stop eating. Dogs that drink a lot of water may just indicate that the day is too hot, or that there has been some change in the dog’s routine. Sometimes the number of visits of dogs to the water fountain makes it seem that they are drinking a lot of water, but in fact they are drinking the proper amount, so you should measure the dog’s water intake to confirm that the dog is really drinking a lot of water. If the animal is drinking a lot of water and loses its appetite, stopping eating, this may indicate that the dog is getting sick, several diseases can lead to these symptoms and therefore a veterinarian should be consulted for the diagnosis and adequate treatment for the disease. dog disease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Dog drinking lots of water and not eating
What does it mean when the dog drinks a lot of water?
Excessive water consumption can be a sign of illness in dogs. And it is usually associated with imbalance in the animal’s body and organs. As also the dog drinking a lot of water can be the result of climate changes or even changes in the animal’s environment.
What can it be when the dog drinks a lot of water and pees a lot?
Excessive water consumption with increased urination can indicate some diseases such as kidney disease, urinary infection and hormonal diseases such as:
- Diabetes;
- Hyperadrenocorticism;
- Hyperthyroidism.
If these symptoms are observed, the dog should be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
What to do when the dog drinks too much water?
It is important to measure the amount of water that the dog is drinking per day, so that it is confirmed that he is drinking more than he should. The dog should be taken to the veterinarian. Diagnosing as soon as possible the possible health problems that can result in a dog drinking too much water can help in the treatment of the dog.
Reference
Bartges, J. W. (2012). Chronic kidney disease in dogs and cats. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 42(4), 669-692
Emanuelli, M. P., Lopes, S. T. D. A., Schmidt, C., Maciel, R. M., & Godoy, C. L. B. D. (2007). Hipoadrenocorticismo primário em um cão. Ciência Rural, 37, 1484-1487.
Lins, J. H. A., Gomes, R. R., Bogdanov, G., Nhan, R., Ferreira, N. M., Carvalho, F. F., & Pinto, C. F. (2013). Carcinoma de tireóide em cão–relato de caso. Revista de Educação Continuada em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia do CRMV-SP, 11(2), 70-71.
Noakes, D. E., Dhaliwal, G. K., & England, G. C. (2001). Cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra in dogs: a review of the causes and pathogenesis. Journal of reproduction and fertility. Supplement, 57, 395-406.
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