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Clinical Symptom🐕 Dogs🐈 Catsendocrineurinary

Polydipsia

🗣️ Pronounced:pol-ee-DIP-see-uh
In One Sentence (Plain English)

Abnormally increased thirst and excessive water consumption.

Editorial Status: Verified from peer-reviewed veterinary sources (v1.0)
Updated: 2026-01-15

💬 In Plain English

Polydipsia is the medical term for drinking far more water than normal. Pet owners usually notice the water bowl constantly needing refills, their dog drinking from toilets or puddles, or their cat hovering over water fountains. Because drinking and peeing are closely tied, polydipsia almost always occurs alongside increased urination (polyuria). In healthy dogs and cats, normal daily water intake is roughly 50 to 60 milliliters per kilogram of body weight; drinking more than 100 ml/kg daily is considered clinically abnormal.

🔬 Clinical & Technical Depth

For Vets & Technicians

Formal Clinical Definition

Excessive water consumption exceeding normal physiologic thirst mechanisms (>100 mL/kg/day in canines, >60–100 mL/kg/day in felines). It is typically a compensatory response to primary nephrogenic or solute polyuria, or rarely primary psychogenic polydipsia.

Why Veterinarians Use It

Veterinarians document polydipsia as a hallmark primary symptom guiding investigations into endocrine disorders (diabetes, Cushing’s, Addison’s) and chronic renal failure.

Clinical Context Encountered

Encountered when owners observe their pets demanding water constantly or noticing puddles emptied quickly.

Clinical Reference Guide (Clinical Symptom)

Urgency Level

🚨 Red Flag Warnings (When to Contact an Emergency Vet)
  • •NEVER restrict water intake in a pet with polydipsia: if their body is compensating for water loss through the kidneys, cutting off water can cause fatal rapid dehydration and hypernatremic shock.

❓ Questions to Ask Your Veterinarian

Take these actionable questions with you to your next clinic visit or appointment:

  • 1Should I measure my pet’s exact 24-hour water intake using a measuring cup before our appointment?
  • 2Does my pet’s urine specific gravity (USG) confirm that the kidneys are having trouble concentrating urine?
  • 3What blood tests (chemistry panel, electrolytes, endocrine screening) will differentiate between kidney disease, diabetes, and Cushing’s?
  • 4Should I ever restrict my pet’s access to fresh water?

Academic & Clinical References