Dog Community

Springer Spaniel Puppy drinks A LOT of water

Posted : 10/8/2006 10:01:30 AM

My puppy (13 weeks old) cannot turn down water. I fill a bowl, he drinks it. He tries to climb in the bathtub even when there's no water in it because he's seen water in it. He's obsessed with water. When he was younger my parents (who bred him) had a kiddie pool for the puppies and they live on the Gulf of Mexico so he swam a lot...which possibly ignited his water obsession? Does anyone else have this problem? A trainer told me to stop his water at around 7:00 so he's sleep through the night. I've done that some but he seems to sleep the same no matter what (he usually goes to bed between 9:00 and 10:00, wakes up and whines for a minute or 2 in his kennel around 2:00 or 3:00am, goes out, then sleeps until 7:30 or so). Sometimes I think he's actually crying in the middle of the night for water, not to go outside. We live in Los Angeles now so he won't be seeing as much water in terms of that in which he can swim. Should I be concerned with his consumption of water? He will drain almost any bowl put in front of him.

I'm sorry if this has been posted a million times before, or if I should be posting it in the health forum. I'm new here. It seems like a really great place. Also, sorry it's so long-winded. He's my first puppy on my own (My family has had springer spaniels my entire life, but he's MY first so I'm a little overly cautious).

Thanks.

mondayblues

Posted : 10/9/2006 1:31:21 AM

Have you ruled out any medical problems?

Katie P

Posted : 10/9/2006 9:47:20 AM

No, because everyone has told me it's fine. I know he isn't dehydrated because his gums are pink.

gardengirl

Posted : 10/10/2006 6:23:20 PM

Many illnesses can cause excessive thirst. Diabetes and Cushing's disease are two of them. I would rule out a medical cause before anything else.

calliecritturs

Posted : 10/10/2006 6:35:20 PM

MonkeyP - I hate to tell you -- pink gums are a sign of BLOOD not hydration. I would never ever deny a dog water. I might give him a lick bottle in his crate so he has to work for it, but I would never EVER deny a baby water.

This dog needs to be tested -- they can be born with a UTI and they can be born with kidney problems. Rule out the medical first. A puppy might PLAY in water, but not drink insatiably just for fun. Gardengirl is absolutely right -- MANY illnesses can cause excessive thirst and so can breed-related health problems.

Katie P

Posted : 10/12/2006 2:58:59 PM

Okay, it turns out I was overreacting. He isn't drinking an abnormal amount. He just loves when he gets to see me fill his bowl then he gets excited and drinks a lot. But I measured his intake for the past couple of days and it's completely normal.

calliecritturs, I know all about the playing in the water bowl. Monkey, my puppy, and his brothers and sisters couldn't get enough of the swimming in their water bowl when they all lived together. One would start it and all of the others would come running over to play. It was really cute....a mess, but a cute mess. Monkey doesn't do it anymore. At least not at home. He goes crazy in the water bowl at the dog park though. I'm constantly refilling it so he can "swim" some more.

Anyway, thank you to all those who responded. I'm very cautious about his every move.