Excessive Thirst in pets
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Excessive thirst is one of the more common clinical complaints pet guardians report in pets with chronic disease. Often, when pets have excessive thirst, they will have excessive urination as well. There can be many possible causes of excessive thirst and urination. Metabolic problems of the liver and kidney, including inflammation and infection may cause excessive thirst. Hormonal problems such as diabetes and Cushing’s disease may also cause excessive thirst and urination. In older pets, various cancers may also cause excessive thirst. It is also important to recognize that various dietary factors, including high salt or processed commercial pet foods may also cause excessive thirst and urination.
Any pet with chronic excessive thirst should have a complete medical workup at the veterinarian, including blood CBC/chemistry and urine analysis as a baseline of tests. If these tests fail to reveal the underlying causes of excessive thirst or urination, additional blood work may and urine testing may be indicated, as well as x-rays and possibly ultrasound. Treatment and prognosis of excessive thirst will vary depending upon the underlying cause, but with early testing and diagnosis, most cases can be successfully managed.