Oesophageal stricture is a rare but important problem for both dogs and cats. It happens when a narrowing forms in the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. This creates a partial blockage for food and water.
Continue reading “Oesophageal Stricture In Dogs & Cats”Help! My Dog Has A Swollen Stomach
Essential facts ( details below):
When Is A Swollen Belly An Emergency?
Dogs with any of these symptoms need to be taken to a vet immediately:
- Vomiting
- Hard, painful abdomen
- Collapse
- Severe lethargy
- Not eating
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Dog Has A Swollen Stomach”Lymphoma In Cats
Lymphoma is the most common tumour of cats. It also can be one of the more treatable cancers depending on the type involved.
Lymphoma is caused by the abnormal multiplication and growth of lymphocytes. These are a white blood cell found throughout the body, including the bloodstream, gut and lymph nodes.
Continue reading “Lymphoma In Cats”Grape Sultana & Raisin Poisoning
‘Essential facts (Details Below)’
When A Dog Eats Grape Products
- Grapes are toxic whether dried, fresh or cooked
- The toxic dose is unknown and highly variable
- Removal via vomiting and treatment of kidney damage gives good results
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Grape Sultana & Raisin Poisoning”Pancreatitis In Cats
Your cat might need your help. Imagine if there was a disease that affected two thirds of cats over their life, but vets rarely diagnosed it. That’s the reality for pancreatitis in cats.
Continue reading “Pancreatitis In Cats”Help! My Cat Is Vomiting
Vomiting can be a symptom of a wide variety of illnesses in cats, many of which are featured in this article. Vomiting can also be normal, so let’s start by deciding when to go to the vet.
Help! My Dog Has Bloat
Emergency care (details below)
How To Recognise & Treat Bloat
- Retching, distress and a large, hard belly are signs of bloat
- Travel to an emergency vet as fast as is safe to do so
- Any delay in treatment reduces the chance of survival
Now dive deeper…
Continue reading “Help! My Dog Has Bloat”What Human Drugs Are Safe For Dogs?
You’ve got a dog needing treatment and you’ve even got some of your own meds nearby. Can you use them?
The use of non-veterinary drugs is a common question from pet owners. When is it a good idea to give your dog human medications? Sometimes, surprisingly, it is. Just not that often.*
Continue reading “What Human Drugs Are Safe For Dogs?”Help! My Dog Is Drinking A Lot
‘At A Glance (Details Below)’ What To Do
If A Dog Drinks More Than Usual
- When dogs drink more it’s usually hormonal or kidney issues
- These are all easily diagnosed on routine blood & urine testing
- The top cause in small breed dogs is Cushings Disease
- If testing is normal, there’s usually nothing to worry about
Now dive deeper…
I’ve talked before about cats drinking too much water. Now let’s look at the common reasons why dogs drink excessive amounts of water. Just like for cats, drinking too much in dogs is potentially serious and needs investigation.
First, though, how much is too much? The first thing to do is measure the amount.
How Much Water Should A Dog Drink A Day?
A dog under normal ambient temperatures and exercise levels should drink no more than 70mL per kilogram of body weight per day. For example, a 10kg dog should drink less than 700mL per day. Dogs drinking more than this amount should be investigated by a vet.
Most dogs with excessive thirst will drink well over 100mL/kg/day. To measure the actual amount, mark the level of water in the bowl and after 24 hours refill it to the same mark using a measuring jug. Make sure all sources of water have been accounted for and other animals have their own separate water supplies.
If the result is high, here’s what your vet will be thinking about.
Why Dogs Drink Excessive Water
There are five common reasons why you might notice your dog wanting more water without other signs of illness.
- Cushings Disease (hyperadrenocorticism)
- Kidney disease (renal failure)
- Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
- Using certain drugs like diuretics or steroids
- And appropriate reasons, like a change from a wet to a dry diet, hot weather, increased exercise, suckling puppies
Then there are the common causes where there will also usually be other, more obvious signs of a problem. These include:
- Diarrhoea- read more about treating loose stools here
- Thyroid problems, in this case, hypothyroidism
- Pyometra- a common infection of the uterus only seen in undesexed females
- Advanced liver failure, when there should also be obvious weight loss and poor appetite.
There are in fact many other rare causes such as Addison’s disease, portosystemic shunts, hypercalcaemia (most commonly from anal gland tumours) or diabetes insipidus but don’t worry too much about these. The trick is simply to know that routine blood tests and urine testing should get you a long way towards finding the answer. Whatever the cause, drinking excessively is a sign to take seriously.
Early detection is vital for some diseases. So if you have a dog who starts drinking more, even if they don’t seem unwell, let us take a look! It might be nothing, or it might just be the clue that saves your dog.
Related: Why dogs pee inside
Have something to add? Comments are welcome below and will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. These help topics are from a series regularly posted on email and Twitter. Subscribe via email here to never miss a story! The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.
Help! My Cat Is Drinking A Lot
‘At A Glance (Details Below)’ What To Do
If A Cat Drinks More Than Usual
- It could be due to diabetes, kidney or thyroid disease
- These are all easily diagnosed on routine blood & urine testing
- The top three causes can all be managed or treated if detected in time
- If testing is normal, there’s usually nothing to worry about
Now dive deeper…
All jokes aside, cats really do have a drinking problem. I’ve talked before about cats not drinking enough water but that’s nothing compared with what happens when cats are too thirsty.
A cat who starts drinking or urinating more than they used to is almost certainly in big trouble. The good news is, it’s not an emergency and there’s plenty you can do if you find the cause before your cat gets sick.
Why Do Cats Drink Too Much?
There are five common reasons why you might notice your cat wanting more water. Read more about each at the links.
- Kidney disease (renal failure)
- Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
- Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
- Diarrhoea
- Changing from a wet to a dry diet
The last one should be obvious but it really is surprising how much more water cats need to drink on dry foods. Diarrhoea should also be obvious but many cats don’t use litter boxes so you might need to go poking about (quite literally).
Whatever the cause, drinking excessively is a sign to take seriously. Any change in a cat’s behaviour almost never happens just by chance. If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this blog, that’s it.
More About Kidney Disease
I’d like to say a few more words about kidney disease; it’s the most common cause of drinking excessively and the most common illness of older cats. Most cat lovers will at some point have to face it so it’s good to be prepared.
Correct treatment of kidney problems depends on knowing both the stage of the disease and the unique features of each cat. It can be fiendishly complex and no two cats are treated the same. You can read all about this at our kidney disease page but here’s a quick summary of what your vet should be thinking and doing.
Tests For Kidney Problems
- Blood and urine testing. No animal can be diagnosed as having kidney failure without both of these. That’s because dehydration from other causes looks exactly the same until you check the urine concentration. Blood tests like these also show us related problems like low potassium or high phosphate.
- Blood pressure measurement. Kidney cats are often hypertensive; if you don’t fix this, they can go blind from retinal detachment and kidney problems worsen quickly.
- Sterile urine culture. Not only are kidney infections more common than realised, they are great to discover. My own cat had one and by controlling it, her kidney problem got better, not worse.
- Urine protein: creatinine ratio. Urine protein loss is a sign of glomerular damage and can be treated just by adding another tablet.
Read how to collect a urine sample here.
Treatment Of Kidney Disease
It all depends on the individual. The most important therapy for the majority of cats is a change to a renal support diet. By reducing blood phosphate levels and adding extra nutrients, these diets can make a huge difference to your cat’s lifespan and quality of life.
There are also several drugs we use to treat cats with kidney problems, though most cats only need a few of these.
- Phosphate binders are needed if the special diet doesn’t do enough on its own
- Potassium supplements fight the increased loss of this electrolyte from the kidneys
- Drugs like benzepril or telmisartan reduce glomerular hypertension
- Antihypertensives like amlodipine control high blood pressure
- Appetite stimulants help cats maintain body weight, especially in later stages
The most important thing, however, is close monitoring. There’s no such thing as ‘wait and see’ with a cat who might have kidney problems. If they get sick, the faster we get them rehydrated the better their chances are of returning to normal.
Early detection is even more important. So if you have a cat who starts drinking more, even if they haven’t yet lost weight, let us take a look! It might be nothing, or it might just be the clue that saves your cat.
Related: Why cats pee inside
Have something to add? Comments are welcome below and will appear within 24 hours.
By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. These help topics are from a series regularly posted on email and Twitter. Subscribe via email here to never miss a story! The information provided here is not intended to be used as a substitute for going to the vet. If your pet is unwell, please seek veterinary attention.
Common Problems Of Dogs, Cats, Rabbits & Chickens
Follow the links for information on:
- Aggression At The Vet | Dogs
- Anal Glands | Dogs
- Arthritis Treatment | Dogs | Cats | Rabbits
- Barking | Dogs
- Back Leg Problems | Dogs | Rabbits
- Bee Sting | Dogs
- Bloat | Dogs
- Calicivirus | Rabbits
- Cancer Care | Dogs & Cats
- Car Accidents | Cats
- Car Sickness | Dogs
- Cat Fight Wounds | Cats
- Cat Flu | Cats
- Cataracts | Dogs
- Chocolate poisoning | Dogs
- Choking or Gagging | Dogs
- Constipation | Cats
- Coughing | Dogs
- Cruciate Ligament Tears | Dogs
- Cushings Disease | Dogs
- Cuts & Wounds | Dogs, Cats & Rabbits
- Cystitis | Cats
- Dandruff | Cats
- Deafness | Dogs & Cats
- Dermatitis, Itching & Eczema | Dogs
- Diabetes | Dogs & Cats
- Diarrhoea | Dogs
- Drinking More Than Usual | Dogs | Cats
- Ear Infections | Dogs
- Ear Swelling | Dogs
- Ear Tip Sores | Dogs
- Eating Rat Poison | Dogs
- Egg Binding/Peritonitis | Chickens
- Eye Problems | Dogs & Cats
- Flea Infestations | Dogs, Cats & Rabbits
- Food Allergies | Dogs & Cats
- Gastrointestinal Stasis | Rabbits
- Genetic Disease | Dogs | Cats
- Giving Birth | Dogs
- Giving Tablets | Cats
- Grape Poisoning | Dogs
- Grass Seeds | Dogs
- Hair Loss and Overgrooming | Cats | Rats
- Heart Diseases & Failure | Dogs & Cats
- Heart Murmurs | Dogs
- Heat Stress & Stroke | Dogs
- Hip Dysplasia | Dogs
- Injuries Car & Road | Cats
- Injuries | Rabbits
- Kennel Cough | Dogs
- Kidney Disease & Failure | Dogs & Cats | Rabbits
- Licking Feet | Dogs
- Limping | Dogs
- Lip & Mouth Sores | Cats
- Lost Or Missing Pets | Dogs, Cats & Rabbits
- Lumps | Dogs | Rabbits
- Lumps In The Mouth | Dogs
- Mite infestation | Guinea Pigs
- Mycoplasma Respiratory Disease | Rats
- Myxomatosis | Rabbits
- Not Eating | Cats | Rabbits
- Onion Eating | Dogs
- Overgrown Teeth | Rabbits
- Overweight | Dogs Cats
- Pancreatic Inflammation | Dogs | Cats
- Patellar Luxation Surgery | Dogs
- Poisoning | Dogs
- Respiratory Infections | Chickens
- Scratching & Itching | Dogs
- Seizures & Fits | Dogs
- Separation Anxiety | Dogs
- Skin Infections & Hotspots | Dogs
- Snake Bite | Dogs & Cats
- Teeth Cleaning & Dentistry Options | Dogs & Cats
- Thunderstorm & Firework Fear | Dogs
- Tick Paralysis | Dogs & Cats
- Thyroid & Hyperthyroid | Cats
- Urinary Obstruction | Cats
- Urinating Inside | Cats | Dogs
- Vomiting | Dogs | Cats
- Walking & On Leash Aggression | Dogs
- Yelping in Pain | Dogs
Help! My Dog is Vomiting
Anyone who has had a dog knows that they vomit a lot more than people. Vomiting can be normal in some cases, and extremely serious in others. What are the causes of vomiting in dogs and how do you tell when it’s serious?
For the causes of vomiting in cats, click here.
Help! My Pet Has Been Poisoned
‘At A Glance (Details Below)’ Emergency Care
What To Do If A Dog Or Cat Eats Poison
- Vets can remove poisons by vomiting or adsorbents if less than two hours
- Don’t try to cause vomiting at home unless no vet is available
- Many poisons cause delayed damage so see a vet even if your dog appears healthy