When your dog is drinking more water than usual and also vomiting, it can be worrying for any pet owner.
While occasional vomiting may not always be an emergency, when paired with excessive thirst, it often points to an underlying health problem that needs attention.
We outline the common causes of excessive drinking and vomiting in dogs, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog Excessively Drinking Water and Vomiting — Why It Happens
Excessive drinking and vomiting in dogs is usually a sign that something is wrong internally, often involving the digestive system, kidneys, liver, or hormones. Dogs may drink too much water if they feel dehydrated, overheated, or if a disease process affects their ability to balance fluids.
When the body cannot cope, vomiting can occur. Common causes include kidney disease, liver problems, diabetes, infections, or even simple issues like drinking too quickly after exercise.
Because these symptoms can overlap with both mild and very serious conditions, it’s important to pay close attention and seek timely veterinary advice.
Dog Excessively Drinking Water and Vomiting: Common Causes
Kidney Disease
When the kidneys are not working properly, they struggle to filter toxins from the blood.
This makes dogs feel thirsty all the time, leading to excessive drinking. Unfortunately, the buildup of waste products in the body can trigger nausea and vomiting.
You might also notice weight loss, bad breath, or changes in urination. Kidney problems are more common in older dogs, but they can occur at any age. Left untreated, they can quickly become life-threatening.
Read more: Dog Excessively Itching but No Fleas (Here’s why)
Liver Disease
The liver helps process toxins, store nutrients, and support digestion. When it is damaged, toxins can accumulate and make dogs nauseous, which leads to vomiting.
Dogs with liver disease often drink more water in an attempt to compensate for fluid loss or imbalances.
Yellowing of the eyes or gums, diarrhea, and lethargy are other warning signs. Liver disease can be caused by infections, poisoning, or genetic problems, and early diagnosis makes a big difference in outcomes.
Diabetes Mellitus
Dogs with diabetes cannot regulate their blood sugar properly. As a result, sugar builds up in the blood and is passed out in the urine, taking extra water with it.
This makes dogs very thirsty and causes them to drink excessively. Vomiting happens when blood sugar levels swing dangerously high or low, or if complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis develop.
Other clues include increased appetite, unexplained weight loss, or recurrent urinary infections.
Infections
Serious infections, such as pyometra (uterine infection in unspayed females) or leptospirosis, can make dogs both extremely thirsty and sick to their stomach.
Vomiting in these cases is the body’s way of fighting illness, but it signals a serious problem.
With infections, other symptoms like fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite are usually present. Because infections can spread quickly and be fatal if untreated, they should never be ignored.
Drinking Too Quickly After Exercise
Sometimes the cause is less serious. If a dog gulps down large amounts of water after running or playing, the stomach can become irritated and lead to vomiting.
While this is not usually dangerous, repeated episodes may point to an underlying condition or risk of bloat, a serious emergency.
Monitoring how your dog drinks after exercise can help reduce the risk.
Poisoning or Toxin Exposure
Dogs are curious by nature, and unfortunately, they sometimes ingest things they shouldn’t, such as antifreeze, medications, or toxic plants.
Many poisons cause increased thirst and vomiting as the body attempts to flush out toxins.
Depending on the substance, other symptoms like drooling, tremors, or seizures may also appear. This is a true emergency and requires immediate veterinary care.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Excessively Drinking Water and Vomiting
If your dog is drinking more than usual and vomiting, the first step is to observe carefully. Note when the symptoms started, how much water your dog is consuming, and how often vomiting occurs. This information will be helpful for your vet.
At home, make sure your dog always has access to fresh, clean water, but don’t let them gulp down huge amounts at once.
Offer smaller, more frequent amounts of water to reduce stomach upset. You can also temporarily switch to a bland diet, such as boiled chicken and rice, to give the stomach a chance to settle.
Avoid giving human medications unless prescribed by your vet, as many can make the problem worse.
Instead, focus on keeping your dog comfortable, hydrated, and calm until you can get veterinary advice. If symptoms are mild and your dog is otherwise acting normal, monitor closely for 12–24 hours. If vomiting continues or your dog seems weak, a vet visit is essential.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
You should contact your veterinarian right away if your dog cannot keep water down, vomits multiple times in a day, or seems very lethargic.
Signs like blood in the vomit, sudden weight loss, yellowing of the gums or eyes, or very frequent urination should never be ignored.
If your dog is a senior, has a known health condition such as kidney or liver disease, or is diabetic, these symptoms may indicate an emergency.
Puppies are also at higher risk because they can dehydrate quickly. In any of these situations, urgent veterinary attention is required.
Read more: Dog Licking Bum Excessively and Diarrhea (Should you worry?)
Key Takeaway
Excessive drinking and vomiting in dogs is never something to ignore. While it may sometimes be caused by simple overdrinking, it can also be a sign of serious problems like kidney disease, liver trouble, diabetes, or poisoning.
Paying attention to patterns, keeping your dog comfortable, and seeking timely veterinary care are the best ways to protect your dog’s health.
As a caring owner, trusting your instincts and acting quickly will give your dog the best chance at recovery.