Why does the dog drink a lot of water?
In addition to making sure your dog eats properly, you should be careful with the amount of water you drink. They should always have fresh and clean water available and make sure to drink the required amount.
- Water is the most important essential nutrient for the survival of all organisms.
- Approximately 70% of the dog’s body weight is composed of water.
- With this Animal Expert article.
- You can see if your dog is drinking as much water as you need.
- Read on to find out.
Before you panic and start thinking that you are facing a clinical sign of disease, it is important to know the functions of water, in order to be able to associate and detect any pathology related to its imbalance.
Some of the water functions are
The origin of body water comes from its consumption, its food intake and the metabolic reactions that occur in the body. In turn, water loss occurs in the urine, stool, lungs, and skin. In the case of dogs, the removal of water by the skin is minimal since dogs sweat only by the tongue and cushions, where they have sweat glands.
There are certain aspects to consider related to water consumption, which are not always indicative of a disease:
In addition, it is very important to note that some pharmacological treatments such as corticosteroids or diuretics also result in increased water consumption.
How much water should a dog drink a day? If the dog has no problems, there will be a balance between water gains and losses and will need about 70 ml of water per kg of weight per day.
If there is a pathology that leads to an increase in water loss, there will therefore be a greater need for water intake. This pathology is called polydipsia. Polydipsis is usually accompanied by polyuria (the dog urinates more) and may be accompanied by other clinical signs.
The water supply is regulated by the antidiuretic hormone that is released by the pituitary gland and goes to the kidneys, which act by concentrating urine. This shaft may malfunction at one of the points due to diseases such as:
If you think your dog drinks too much water and vomits, is sad, eats little and clear urine, you should quickly consult your trusted veterinarian.
The specialist will be able to evaluate, through various diagnostic tests, what is the cause of the dog drinking more water and define an appropriate treatment. Do not attempt to treat the dog alone or treat it without the supervision of the veterinarian.
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