Canine Symptoms of Excessive Food & Water Consumption

Your dog has a voracious appetite and yet never seems to gain any weight. Or maybe your dog drinks a lot of water and you suspect there's something going on. While many dogs vacuum food up faster than a Hoover and some dogs drink an extraordinary amount of water, there is a limit to what's healthy. Overeating or drinking too much may be a symptom of a more serious problem.

Overeating can be defined as being ravenous and eating more and more food without gaining weight, despite being fed the correct amount for the size, age and activity level of the dog. Overdrinking is drinking and urinating to the point where your dog has accidents in the house due to the amount of water consumption.

  1. Malabsorption

    • If your dog is eating everything in sight and still underweight, your pet may have malabsorption syndrome. Basically, it's a problem with the pancreas or small intestine where the dog simply can't digest the food. The dog will also have diarrhea and large, greasy-looking feces because the dog can't digest the fat.

      A variety of diseases can cause this problem, some of which are hereditary. Pancreatic insufficiency is one cause of this problem, as is an overabundance of bacterial growth in the small intestine. Dogs who are sensitive to gluten or who have hereditary problems with protein-losing enteropathy and protein-losing nephropathy, such as Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and certain lines of Irish Setters, may show signs of overeating while still losing weight. Idiopathic villous atrophy, a disease of the small intestine found in German Shepherd dogs and others, has to do with the malformation of intestinal villi and does not allow dogs to absorb their food properly.

      In each case a veterinarian will need to diagnose the condition and treat the disease. Treatments depend on the disease, and may range from special diets to surgery.

    Diabetes

    • Dogs who drink excessive water and eat excessively without gaining weight may have diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes. In its early stages, the dog may eat excessively. Your veterinarian will have to test for diabetes and if your dog has it, treatment will involve a special diet, medications and perhaps insulin injections.

    Cushing's Disease

    • Excessive thirst can be a sign of Cushing's Disease. Cushing's Disease occurs when there is too much corticosteroid due to a malfunction either with the pituitary or adrenal glands or tumors on either. Excessive drinking is one of several symptoms, including bilateral hair loss, loss of muscle tone, a pot-belly and lethargy. A veterinarian can diagnose Cushing's Syndrome and prescribe medications to treat it.

    Kidney Failure

    • In older dogs, excessive thirst combined with excessive urination may be a sign of kidney disease or even kidney failure. A veterinarian can diagnose this disease through blood and urine tests. If your dog is diagnosed with this disease, your veterinarian will prescribe a special diet to support the kidneys.