My Dog Is Drinking a Lot of Water at Night

We will look at some of the physiological and even psychological reasons why a dog is drinking a lot of water at night, but it is important to consider any environmental influences. When temperatures rise, a dog needs to drink more water to stay hydrated and regulate body temperature. If you notice a dog is drinking more at night, consider whether it is warmer than usual.

If you notice your dog drinks more water at night as you enter the summer months, it could just be a reaction to changing ambient temperature. Especially if they are still maintaining the same energy and activity levels. The more exercise a dog will do, the more water they will lose.

It may also be that you don't realize how warm it has become. Climate change is making some areas unseasonably warm, so you may be surprised to see them drinking at this time of year. Also, we may have changed our home heating settings, so maybe our house is too warm.

What to do if my dog is too hot

If you want to help your dog cope with the heat, make sure they always has fresh water and a cool place to rest. Avoid overexposure to the sun and be very careful when exercising in the heat. Avoid the hottest parts of the way when it is very warm. In addition you can help keep your dog cool and hydrated with the following:

• There are cooling beds that can help keep your dog from getting too hot.
• Wet food can also help, as it hydrates more than dry food.

If you suspect that your dog is hot at night and there are no other symptoms such as fever, diarrhea and vomiting, the cause is probably simple. They simply need to hydrate in the hot environment. Ensure they always have access to fresh and clean water.

If you have recently changed your friend's diet, this could lead to them drinking more at night. This is especially so if you feed them a diet of only dry kibble. This food has much less moisture than wet food, so they need to compensate by drinking more to hydrate. This can be exacerbated if your dog is exercising more than usual or it is particularly hot.

Dogs can also be very picky when it comes to their food. Changing to a different brand or even creating a homemade diet can mean they do not want to eat it. In this case, they may be drinking more to compensate. This cannot continue for long as their health will deteriorate quickly if they do not eat.

What to do if my dog has the wrong diet

If you need to ensure better hydration, you can do the following to amend their diet:

• Add a little wet food or water to their dry kibble.
• You may consider alternating dry and wet food to help hydrate them.
• Try to keep the salt content as low as possible and with balanced levels of sodium and nutrients.
• Make sure that fresh water is always available.

Learn more about the reasons why a dog is drinking, but not eating, with our related article.

Another reason why your dog suddenly drinks a lot of water at night is boredom. This is due to behavioral problems that develop compulsively or repetitively. This is usually a result of the dog lacking mental and/or physical stimulation. They become bored and frustrated, relieving their stress by carrying our various actions, including drinking more water than usual. This is different from excessive thirst due to a physiological reason.

What to do if my dog drinks a lot of water at night out of boredom

If boredom is the reason your dog suddenly drinks a lot of water, you will need to address this problem immediately:

• Spend time with him and increase physical activity: quality time with your best friend is essential for their well-being. While each dog has their individual needs, they all need to expend energy appropriately. Fortunately, spending time with our best friend shouldn't have to be a chore. Take them on more walks, provide them with training and play with them more at home.
• Provide a better routine: dogs are creatures of habit. Creating a routine is very essential for canines to feel secure in the home, as it reduces stress and the need for compulsive behaviors.
• Hydration: monitor the amount of water your pet drinks and remove the bowl from time to time if necessary to prevent excess.

While we need to consider physical, environmental or even pathological reasons why a dog is drinking excessively, we should not ignore their emotional life. Boredom can manifest in various behavioral disorders, so you should take the opportunity to assess your dog's needs and ensure you are meeting them accordingly with the care you provide. Check out our article on the signs a dog is bored to help make this assessment.

Now we address pathological reasons for excessive thirst at night. Urinary tract infections in dogs are relatively common, often leading to increased water intake. This is because the body is trying to compensate for the loss of fluids and the discomfort associated with the infection. Urinary tract infections often irritate the bladder, causing the dog to urinate more often, in turn increasing water consumption to try to avoid dehydration.

Symptoms of this condition are usually the following:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent small amounts of urination
• Pain or discomfort when urinating
• Increased urine odor
• Constantly licking the genital area
• Blood in urination
• Apathy

You may not notice your dog is urinating more during the day, especially if they spend more time outside. It might only be when they are at home at night that you notice. This could be due to them petitioning your more to go outside or because the dog pees indoors when they didn't do so before.

What to do if a dog has a urinary tract infection

It is very important you consult a veterinarian if you suspect that your dog may have a urinary tract infection. If it is not treated, it could lead to even more serious problems such as kidney damage. Furthermore, a urinary obstruction could pose a risk to the dog's life, whether due to infection, tissue damage or some other complication. The best course of action is to seek professional help.

Treatment will be based on tests such as urinalysis to confirm the presence of bacteria or crystals. This may require the administration of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. It is very important to ensure that your dog always has water available to deal with this problem, otherwise they could become dehydrated.

When a dog's kidneys do not function as they should, they will have problems filtering and storing urine. This can lead to urine loss and an increased need for water. We may notice this leads to them drinking more at night or even you will see the dog pees a little while sleeping.

Kidney failure is often a progressive issue, meaning the symptoms will develop slowly over time. It is common for the dog to be asymptomatic until the kidney disease has progressed. This is why we should never ignore symptoms such as drinking a lot of water at night. Other symptoms of kidney disease can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss and more. Underling causes can include infections, poisoning, kidney stones, congenital diseases and others.

What to do if a dog has kidney disease

If you notice that your dog is drinking a lot of water and urinating frequently, it is advisable to go to the vet to rule out underlying diseases. They will perform the necessary tests to determine the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment. An early diagnosis of kidney disease can prolong your dog's life and improve their well-being, so it is important never to ignore these issues.

For chronic kidney disease, you veterinarian will also likely recommend your dog change their diet. We explain what a dog with kidney disease should eat to learn more.

Another disease that can cause your dog to drink a lot of water at night is diabetes mellitus. Dogs that have this disease have very high blood glucose levels, something which damages the kidneys and prevents the excess glucose from being reabsorbed. Consequently, it is eliminated through urine. In turn, this causes water to be carried along with it, causing an increase in the amount of urine produced.

As fluid loss occurs, the dog compensates for this by drinking a lot of water. This can occur during the day, but it may be more noticeable at night when they are less active and the body's need for hydration becomes more apparent.

What to do if my dog has diabetes mellitus

To rule out this problem, medical tests such as urinalysis to determine glucose levels will also be necessary. If diabetes mellitus is confirmed, treatment will be required. This usually consists of the administration of insulin to control high glucose levels, a specific diet based on fiber and low carbohydrate composition, as well as regular exercise. It is advisable to measure and monitor glucose levels at home.

Learn more about the insulin used to treat diabetes in dogs with our related guide.

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