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Dog drinks a lot: common causes and important tips for owners

Dog drinks a lot

If a dog drinks a lot, there are several possible causes. This is not always a cause for concern. In many cases, the excessive thirst has completely harmless reasons. 


However, it is also possible that your dog drinks a lot due to serious health problems and that your pet should be examined by a vet.


In the following, we will explain which causes are particularly often responsible for increased thirst in dogs and from when on you should start to worry about the health of your four-legged friend.

How much should a dog drink?

How much a dog should normally drink depends on various factors. Among other things, the amount of fluid required is determined by the weather, the level of activity and the weight of your four-legged friend.


As a rule of thumb, you can assume that your dog needs to drink between 40 and 100 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day. For a five-kilo animal, this would mean 200 to 500 ml, while a 20-kilo dog needs up to two litres of water a day.

Harmless reasons why a dog drinks a lot

If your dog suddenly drinks much more than usual, this does not necessarily indicate a health problem. Because often the thirst of your four-legged friend has a completely harmless cause, so there is no need for you to take action.

The harmless causes that cause dogs to drink a lot include:

  • High temperatures in summer 
  • Physical activities like dog sports
  • Switch from wet food to dry food

In summer dogs drink more

High temperatures in summer inevitably lead to your dog drinking a lot. This is perfectly normal. In this case, just make sure that your four-legged friend always has fresh water available to quench his thirst.

Physically active dogs drink a lot

It is similar with physical exertion, as for example in dog sports. A dog that regularly exercises in agility and the like usually drinks much more than a conspecific with less exercise.

Dry food leads to more thirst in dogs

Even if you decide to switch from wet food to dry food, you will quickly notice that your dog suddenly drinks a lot more. This is simply due to the significantly higher moisture content of the wet food, which can easily cover half of your pet's fluid requirements.

A sick dog often drinks a lot

Unfortunately, it is quite possible that your dog is drinking excessively due to a serious health problem and his thirst is therefore a symptom of illness.

Some of the diseases that cause dogs to drink excessively include:

  • Kidney problems
  • Diabetes
  • Cystitis

Dogs with kidney disease drink a lot

The kidneys are a vital filtering organ that ensures that your dog's body is cleansed of harmful substances. If the kidneys have limited capacity, this is called renal insufficiency. 


Renal insufficiency leads to an increased concentration of harmful substances in the body and manifests itself through complaints such as loss of appetite, fatigue and frequent urination. It also ensures that your dog drinks a lot.


Dogs with renal insufficiency require a special food that helps to relieve the strain on the kidneys. For this purpose, we recommend that you rely on our varieties with insect protein, which have a comparatively low protein content thanks to their high biological value.

The following varieties are available for dogs with kidney problems:

In addition, we recommend regular detoxification with Bellfor Kidney Strength as a preventive measure and supportive treatment.

If a dog drinks a lot, this can indicate diabetes

More and more dogs suffer from diabetes. The metabolic disease is characterized by disorders of insulin production. As a result, the organism of your four-legged friend is no longer able to regulate the blood sugar level.


Dogs with diabetes drink a lot and have to urinate very often at the same time. In addition, weight loss and physical weakness are among the typical symptoms of the disease.


Dogs with diabetes must usually be given insulin daily. In addition, a low-carbohydrate diet, such as our favourite wet food menu, is required.

Dogs with cystitis drink a lot

Compared to renal insufficiency or diabetes, cystitis is relatively harmless. Nevertheless, it is extremely unpleasant for affected animals. If your dog suffers from a bladder infection, this is mainly noticeable by frequent urination, which usually only produces a few drops. In addition, dogs with cystitis often drink a noticeable amount.

Poisoning can cause a dog to drink a lot

Poisoning is not uncommon in dogs. They can be caused, for example, by the consumption of cleaning agents, poisonous food and plants, or even by specifically designed poisonous baits.


Depending on the type of poison, poisoning in dogs can manifest itself through vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as cramps, paralysis and apathy. In addition, dogs with poisoning often drink a lot.


Poisoning is a serious medical emergency, which in many cases can be life-threatening. If you suspect that your dog is drinking heavily because of poisoning, you should consult a vet immediately.

When your dog's excessive thirst is a case for the vet

If you notice that your dog is drinking a lot and you cannot explain his thirst by harmless factors such as a change of food or high temperatures in summer, a visit to the vet is always advisable.

When your dog's excessive thirst is a case for the vet


This is especially true if your four-legged friend is suddenly no longer house-trained and wants to go outside remarkably often, or if you notice other complaints besides thirst that indicate illness or even poisoning.

Dog drinks a lot - our conclusion

As you can see, there are many reasons that could cause your dog to drink excessively. The thirst of your four-legged friend is not always a cause for concern. Nevertheless, you should keep an eye on your dog's fluid needs and consult a vet if necessary for safety.


We also recommend that you pay attention to the salt content when buying dog food. This is because some products have a higher salt content to bind moisture and reduce the amount of excrement. However, a high salt content not only makes your dog drink a lot, but also poses an enormous health risk.

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