Dogs may experience excessive thirst for a number of reasons. In most cases, excessive thirst is associated with medical conditions, a response to heat, or a response to an irritating agent. However, bones sometimes may be the root source of excessive thirst by introducing an irritating substance or causing injury that results in excessive thirst or drooling.
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Polydipsia
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According to Carl Osborne, DVM, normal water consumption for the average dog can be calculated using the following formula: [140 x (body weight in kg.) x 0.75]. Therefore, a medium-sized Boston terrier would drink about three cups of water every day. Dogs drinking in excess of that amount are experiencing "polydipsia," or excessive water drinking. Polydipsia can be a symptom of several serious conditions, including diabetes and kidney failure. If excessive water drinking continues over a prolonged period, then a trip to the veterinarian for a diagnosis is in order.
Ptyalism (Hypersalivation)
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Dogs with pendulous lips may drool more than others. All dogs drool to some degree; breeds with pendulous lips drool more than others. Dogs that drool excessively may be perceived as being constantly hungry or constantly thirsty. However, this assumption is frequently incorrect. Three causes of hypersalivation that might be associated with bones include exposure to an irritating substance, a fragment of bone being caught in the dog's throat or tissues, or a broken tooth.
Irritation
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A flavored bone may cause irritation. Dogs that chew "flavored" bones may find themselves exposed to irritating substances, particularly if they are allergic to the ingredients in the flavoring. Other irritants may include various household items, such as sprays containing poisons, repellants or perfumes; creams such as lotions or sunscreen; or poisonous foods such as chocolate, grapes or raisins. Dogs may also have irritation from ingesting a stinging insect or a part of a poisonous plant. In addition to drooling, some dogs may respond to this irritation by drinking excessively.
Foreign Substances
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Dog with a broken bone. A dog may break off chips or splinters when chewing on a cooked bone or an old bone. These chips may become lodged in the dog's gums or in the tissue of its lips, mouth or throat. The dog owner might be able to remove any fragment that is not deeply seated; however, deeply seated fragments may need a veterinarian to remove them. Bone chips or splinters that do not become impacted may still cause cuts or bleeding, eventually leading to infection. Fever from the infection or pain from the cuts or impacted bits of bone may lead the dog to drink excessively in an attempt to find relief.
Broken Teeth
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Dogs that chew on hard or dry bones may not just break off chips or splinters, but they may also break their teeth as well. These breaks might not be entirely obvious at first. Dr. Robert "Jake" Tedaldi, DVM, cautions that a dog owner should check near the base of the tooth, as "sometimes a hairline crack right at the border of the gums can extend into the root, causing pain and salivation." Fractured teeth should be checked by a veterinarian, since they can lead to infection and gingivitis, which can have a serious impact on a dog's health.
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