Is Your Pet Drinking Too Much?

The first symptoms of poisoning from contaminated pet food have been increased water consumption and urination. These are also early symptoms of several other disorders. Urinating small amounts of urine frequently, straining to urinate with little or no results, and bloody or discolored urine are other things pet parents should always be on the lookout for.

Kidneys are supposed to concentrate urine, which helps conserve water. Old dogs and some old cats may gradually lose their ability to concentrate urine. They urinate often, large amounts, and must drink lots of water to make up for the resulting excessive water loss. It is especially important that they always have plenty of fresh clean water and if they get sick or must be anesthetized, intravenous fluids are important to keep their blood pressure up and maintain blood circulation to those old kidneys. IV fluids are especially important in treating the kidney damage resulting from contaminated pet food. Special diets may help slow the deterioration of failing kidneys.

Infections in the kidneys or bladder, diabetes mellitus ("sugar" diabetes), other forms of diabetes, a common disease of the adrenal glands ("Cushing's" disease), liver disease, and many other less common things can also cause increased water consumption and urination.

Bladder infections and inflammation of the bladder cause a burning sensation. The dog or cat will urinate often, keeping the bladder pretty empty, and they keep on straining even though there's nothing left to come out. On the other hand, male cats often get "plugged up" from inflammation in the bladder. Male, and sometimes female, dogs and cats may have urinary obstructions from bladder stones. These patients keep straining too, but their bladder is full. This is very painful and if untreated the kidneys may suffer permanent damage, the bladder may rupture, and the animal may die. Faced with these symptoms, a phone call to your veterinarian, even if outside of normal business hours, is important. An emergency examination and treatment may be justified.

Puppies and old female dogs often leak urine. In dogs, squatting and urinating is an instinctive way of saying, "you're the boss and I don't want to make you mad." Puppies are likely to say this to older, bigger dogs, and to humans. They don't realize they are leaking urine, it has nothing to do with house training, and punishment will not only not help, it may make matters worse. With time and maturity the problem usually goes away.

Old dogs, especially spayed females, sometimes become incontinent. They will typically wake up lying in a pool of urine. They are often embarrassed and contrite. Rarely, this may happen in a young spayed dog. A bladder infection, stones, and kidney failure should be ruled out.

Old dog incontinence can usually be successfully treated with one of two drugs. There are pills that will stimulate the "pucker string" in the bladder. They typically must be given once or twice a day. They may increase blood pressure and excitability but these are rarely a concern. Another option is estrogen pills. This is more natural in that it replaces the low level of estrogen that, even when the animal is not in heat, the ovaries normally provide. Estrogen may only need to be given once a week. Serious bone marrow suppression is a possible side effect, but this is rare if it is used carefully.

It is testosterone, incidentally, that makes male dogs hike their legs when they pee. It is normal for them to pee often, in small squirts. Even a female may have enough testosterone cause this behavior. Think of it as canine graffiti.