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-   -   Water Consumption...What's Normal? (http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=65124)

luckypenny August 22nd, 2009 09:42 PM

Water Consumption...What's Normal?
 
Is there a general guideline for dogs?

All our dogs, with the exception of Toby, are fed raw so the only time I notice them drinking water is during and after playtime. Toby is fed 1 cup of Orijen Senior 2x per day with a cup of plain homemade beef stew/broth....no salt added. It's just beef and water. As soon as he's done eating, he drinks an additional 1 to 2 cups of water. He also drinks about 2 to 3 cups of water upon awakening in the morning and another 1 cup every two hours or so. I'd say on average, he's consuming approximately a little under a gallon per day. Is that normal? It seems quite a lot but I don't have anything to compare it to :shrug:.

He's had two blood tests within the first week he came home (1 month ago), both showing elevated UREA, CREA, and ALKP. Not alarmingly so, but over the norm esp. ALKP. Everything else fell under the normal range. Stool exams came back fine.

I'm having him re-tested again on Wednesday to see if there have been any changes. Is there something I should be asking/looking for specifically?

I think I should add, he had orange liquid diarrhea his first two weeks here. There was blood present early on but it was attributed to nsaids which were stopped almost immediately...bleeding stopped as well. He's since had two rounds of Metronidazole, 500mg 2x daily...his last dose was 2 days ago. During the treatment, his stools were no longer liquid but, more of of a cow-pie consistency and still an orange-like color. Today, he's had the most formed stool, still soft, but the most normal he's had thus far.

I'm not terribly worried just trying to brainstorm here before Wednesday. Any ideas?

babymomma August 22nd, 2009 09:47 PM

UREA, CREA, and ALKP. <-- Dont know what these are but have you had him tested for diabetes? My uncles lab drinks an insane amount of water, and it turned out to be a result of diabetes.

And I also know another lab that has a cabin near ours who just drinks an insane amount of water for no reason. She's been tested for everything thinkable.

hazelrunpack August 22nd, 2009 09:54 PM

Our dogs can drink about 10 cups in a day, LP--they're about 50 - 55 pounds on average. Can't remember how Toby compares. A larger dog might drink a couple cups more, a smaller dog a little less. But a gallon seems a bit high.

If he's dehydrated from the loose stools, though, he might be drinking more to compensate. :shrug:

Just an aside--we use metronidazole a lot for a number of maladies :rolleyes: and one thing we've noticed is that although the drug usually stops diarrhea, the stools never really firm up to normal until [I]after[/I] our dogs are off the metronidazole entirely.

luckypenny August 22nd, 2009 09:54 PM

I would think signs of Diabetes would show up on a regular blood test :shrug:. Maybe I'm wrong but I sure have it on my list to ask about.

hazelrunpack August 22nd, 2009 09:55 PM

[QUOTE=luckypenny;817543]I would think signs of Diabetes would show up on a regular blood test :shrug:. Maybe I'm wrong but I sure have it on my list to ask about.[/QUOTE]
They can see signs of diabetes in a urine sample, as well--the excess sugar spills into the urine.

Frenchy August 22nd, 2009 09:57 PM

[QUOTE=luckypenny;817543]I would think signs of Diabetes would show up on a regular blood test :shrug:. .[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure about that too LP.

I think he may be drinking more just because of the meds and injections LP. It also been very hot lately , since he's been at your place , could explain it too.

luckypenny August 22nd, 2009 10:01 PM

Toby's 82 lbs but level of activity is quite low. I encourage him to walk the perimeter of the yard at least once...about 4-5 times per day. Otherwise he'd just do his stuff and want back in again.

[QUOTE=hazelrunpack;817542]If he's dehydrated from the loose stools, though, he might be drinking more to compensate. :shrug:[/QUOTE]

Now that makes obvious sense...something that obviously wasn't so obvious to me :rolleyes: :o.

Frenchy August 22nd, 2009 10:04 PM

[QUOTE=luckypenny;817550]


Now that makes obvious sense...something that obviously wasn't so obvious to me :rolleyes: :o.[/QUOTE]

I can relate ;) it always helps to have someone else's opinions. We're too 'close' to our own dogs. Sometimes we don't see the obvious.

makes perfect sense Hazel !

hazelrunpack August 22nd, 2009 10:05 PM

We've seen that effect in our dogs, too--I hope that's all it is! :goodvibes:

Chaser August 23rd, 2009 09:14 AM

It sounds like more water than average, but as mentioned above I would think there are good reasons behind it.

growler~GateKeeper August 24th, 2009 12:53 AM

[QUOTE=luckypenny;817537]He's had two blood tests within the first week he came home (1 month ago), both showing elevated UREA, CREA, and ALKP. Not alarmingly so, but over the norm esp. ALKP. Everything else fell under the normal range.[/QUOTE]

Have the blood and his urine re-tested, the Urea & Crea are the kidney enzymes and Alkp is liver enzyme. Increase in water consumption is common in both kidney & liver issues, however as mentioned above it could be other reasons. :goodvibes: Toby


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