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Why is my 9-year-old dog suddenly drinking so much water lately?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 10 years old

9 years old shes been drinkimg a lot of water

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on February 23rd, 2019

Hi there. There are quite a few different things that can cause increased water intake in middle-aged and older dogs, including diabetes, Cushing's disease, or chronic kidney disease. I would recommend taking Hailey to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can do blood work and a urinalysis to help diagnose the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment depending on what is found.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 24th, 2018
Increases in drinking and urination can happen with a few different diseases. The first thing I would want to rule out is a severe organ disease (i.e. kidney or liver failure), or a condition like diabetes, or Cushings disease. This can also happen if Zoey is on a steroid medication like prednisone.

If she's not on any steroid medications, then it's best to have her evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible to prevent potential life-threatening complications. The sooner the problem is diagnosed, the better the chances are that it will be treated appropriately.

I hope that helps and all is well with Zoey.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Mariya Gugel, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on November 21st, 2017
Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are many conditions that could cause Mollie to drink more. Cushing's disease is definitely one of them, and dogs of Mollie's age are typically affected more frequently than younger dogs. Your vet can run some additional tests to determine exactly what type of Cushing's Mollie has, as there are two different types and each of these requires a different treatment.
There are also other conditions that may cause Mollie to drink more including diabetes or an infection, or it can definitely be behavioral. It is important to treat any underlying causes before saying that her increased drinking is due to behavioral issues. I hope this helps!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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