Excessive Water Drinking – Heat or Renal Warning Sign?

Hello, When a dog starts drinking much more than usual, a check-up with the vet is essential, as this "polydipsia" can be the first sign of kidney disease, as well as other conditions such as diabetes mellitus, Cushing's syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism), pyometra in an unspayed female, or certain liver diseases. Furthermore, an elevated SDMA alone is not enough to diagnose chronic kidney disease. This result must be interpreted alongside a physical exam, a urinalysis (specifically looking at urine specific gravity and checking for proteinuria), creatinine, urea and, if necessary, a kidney ultrasound to confirm the source of the problem and assess its severity. Early intervention often helps to slow the progression of the disease once kidney damage has been confirmed. Best wishes, Inès

It's really important to pay attention to things that might seem minor, like drinking or urinating more often, or having an unexpected accident in the house when it never usually happens... It could be a sign of early-stage kidney failure that might still be manageable at that point... Don't hesitate to speak to your vet about it.