Dog drinking more water – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

This is not usually an emergency on its own – contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your dog seems unwell in any other way. Possible reasons include hot weather, more exercise, kidney disease, diabetes and a urine or bladder problem.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

Increased thirst can be linked with kidney disease or diabetes.^[1] It can also happen with hot weather, more exercise, some medications or a urine or bladder problem.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Weeing more than usual

Possible causes

Kidney disease
Diabetes
A urine or bladder problem
Cushing’s disease
An infected womb (pyometra)
Certain cancers
Liver disease
Medications
Pain
Hot weather

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What can increased thirst come with?

Dogs that drink more may also wee more than usual.^[1]

Could weather or exercise play a part?

Hot weather and doing more exercise are listed as possible reasons for increased thirst.^[1]

Can medications be linked with increased thirst?

Medications are listed as a possible reason for increased thirst.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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