A Great Dane being may drink water a lot more than usual, which can be concerning. With exceptions, it is quite normal for an active dog, puppies, or a lactating Great Dane to drink a lot of water.
But what else could cause a Great Dane to have excessive thirst? Why is your Great Dane always thirsty?
In this article, we will dive into the reasons why excessive thirst occurs in Great Danes, the potential complications, and when to seek help.
Table of Contents
Why Is My Great Dane Always Thirsty?
A Great Dane may always be thirsty due to diet, illness, certain medication, and dehydration. Temporary thirst is common and can be due to overexertion during play or exercise, warm weather, or diet. Excessive thirst over a prolonged period is mainly due to a health condition.
So how can you tell if your Great Dane is abnormally thirsty?
The best way to evaluate your Great Dane’s thirst level is to monitor their drinking and urination frequency compared to their normal rate.
You can do this by providing them with a certain quantity of water in their drinking bowl and monitoring how often you refill the water in a day.
Temporary thirst is normal and common for a Great Dane but prolonged thirst is a sign of an underlying medical condition.
It is important to gauge your Great Dane’s water intake to know whether it is excessive, also known as polydipsia, or normal temporary thirst.
If you notice that the intake is more than usual you should seek medical care.
Related: Why is my Great Dane always hungry?
Complications
Thirst can be caused by various illnesses which can be life-threatening to a Great Dane. For example, Pyometra is a secondary infection that affects female Great Danes that are not spayed, which if left untreated leads to fatal outcomes.
Moreover, dehydration is also a life-threatening condition that can lead to organ failure, consciousness, and death.
What To Do If Your Great Dane Is Always Thirsty
Temporary thirst due to warm weather, play, or exercise can be managed at home by providing enough drinking water.
If you notice that your Great Dane is always thirsty, and drinking more water than usual, take them to the veterinarian right away, because it can be an indication of a health condition.
Take a sample of the urine produced by your Great Dane to the veterinarian which will be tested.
The veterinarian will have questions for you regarding your Great Dane’s diet, lifestyle, and presentation of any signs of illness that you might also have observed.
Diagnostic tests will be conducted to determine the underlying cause of excessive thirst.
The treatment will vary based on the underlying cause and this may include:
- Treatment of disease
- Change of diet
- Rehydration through intravenous fluids to correct severe dehydration.
- Antibiotics to treat infections
- Surgery in some cases
Related: Why is my Great Dane pooping blood?
Conclusion
A Great Dane that is always thirsty can be a cause for concern when you first notice it. It can be due to temporary thirst from playing, exercising, or hot weather or an indication of a serious underlying condition if it prolongs.
Therefore always seek medical attention for your Great Dane when their drinking habits change.
The veterinarian will conduct a series of tests to determine the underlying cause and specific treatment recommendations provided to bring your Great Dane back to health.