Water intake normally increases in hot weather, in animals that eat dry food or in animals that exercise a lot. But there are also a variety of diseases that may make an animal drink more than usual. If you think your pet is drinking excessively, the first step is to determine exactly how much he or she is drinking so that we can make an assessment of whether or not it is actually an abnormally high water intake.
To test your pet's water intake accurately, you must keep him or her separate from other pets that may drink from the same water source. Once you have done that, follow these steps:
A normal animal will drink up to 50 ml of water per kilogram of body weight in a 24 hour period (for example, a 20 kg dog may drink up to a litre in a day). If your pet is drinking significantly more than this, see us for a checkup.
Here you can find information and advice about common problems and diseases. Please remember, though, that this information can't replace a visit to the vet!