Can a dog drink too much water?
QMy 10-year-old female golden retriever seems to be drinking more than usual. I am not sure how to measure this and what is considered abnormal. Her appetite is fine. Is this just an age problem or something more serious?
AAs dogs get older, they can develop conditions that cause increased water intake, which is called polydipsia.
If your dog has not been neutered, one possible serious cause is an infected womb.
Dogs with this problem drink more than usual before becoming ill, often accompanied by loss of appetite and vomiting. They require urgent veterinary attention.
Measuring water intake is quite straightforward. Fill the water bowl with 500ml at 9am, and top up as necessary until 9am the next day.
You could repeat this for two or three days running to get a more accurate measurement of how much water in millilitres the dog is drinking.
This is very useful information for the vet as normally dogs drink 25-50ml/kg. Levels markedly above this will suggest polydipsia.
Another useful thing you can do before seeing your vet is to collect a urine sample. The vet can supply a sample pot, and all you need to do is catch a small amount in a container as the dog squats first thing, and then transfer the urine to the pot.
The main causes of thirst in this age group are an infected womb, diabetes, early kidney failure, liver disease, bladder problems and Cushing’s disease. If polydipsia is present, blood samples and urine analysis should help diagnose the reason.
QMy three-year-old male neutered domestic shorthaired cat has a habit of biting his nails, particularly on the front paws. Is this normal?
AOne of my cats does this too, and in his case it’s part of his normal grooming routine. Other cats keep their nails in shape by using a scratching post, trees in the garden, thick carpet or – in the worst of cases – the household furniture.
It’s worthwhile keeping an eye on the habit to see if it increases in frequency, or if he starts licking his paws excessively.
Both might indicate underlying problems, which can be divided into two main areas in young cats – anxiety and infection.
Many cats experience stress from time to time and nail-biting might result. In my view, most stressed cats tend to over groom by licking themselves more than usual. However, stress and anxiety could be considered if an examination doesn’t reveal any signs of nail bed infection.
Nail bed infections are common and can be bacterial, particularly staphylococcus, which cause a condition known as paronychia. The nail bed becomes swollen and painful, and the cat will lick the area excessively.
More rarely, fungi or yeasts can cause nail bed infections. All infections require a vet examination and sampling to ensure the correct treatment, but most infections respond quickly.
In your cat’s case, it’s probably nothing to worry about, but you know your cat best, so a veterinary opinion is sensible if you are in doubt.