I have a 9-year-old male Corgi who appears to be drinking more than usual. He is taking glucosomine for hip dysplasia. No new meds, but I changed dry foods from Ultra to Innova recently. Could this be the cause?

Connie
Cincinnati

If you’re looking for a sure fire way to get a vet’s attention, try mentioning that your pet is drinking more water than usual.

There are several benign reasons why a dog or cat may experience increased thirst. However, there also are many pathologies that can lead to the symptom you describe. These include A-list diseases such as diabetes (cats, dogs) and kidney disease.

Non-pathological causes of changes to water consumption include diet changes (high sodium diets cause pets to drink more water), medications (prednisone is especially notorious for causing increased thirst; glucosamine typically does not lead to changes in water consumption). Animals need more water when they are active or when the weather is warm. Some pets simply develop a taste for water over time and drink more of it as part of a behavioral syndrome called psychogenic polydipsia.

Many diseases cause increased thirst. Diabetes and kidney disease already have been mentioned. Glandular problems such as thyroid disease (cats, dogs) and issues with the adrenal glands also can lead to changes in thirst. Other pathological causes of changes in water consumption include urinary disease, cancer, and infections of the uterus.

I’ll bet you saw this coming: I recommend that you take your dog to the vet. Basic blood and urine tests (and possibly X-rays) will help to determine whether a medical problem is causing your dog to drink more water.