I have a chow mix from the humane society that I've had for a couple of months. She drinks excessively and sometimes has accidents in the house, usually of a lot of liquid. She eats grass all the time and it is very prevalent in her stool, although I've never seen her throw up. She also nervously pants most of the time. Does anyone have any advice?

It might be a good idea to join the forum Guest so you can answer a few questions.

How old is she? As a possibility, excessive drinking and panting is often a sign of Diabetes in an older dog. Another possibility in an older dog is Dropsy.

Grass eating is supposed to be natures way of sorting a gippy tummy but I get the feeling it can be habit forming. I know several perfectly healthy dogs who love to graze!!! And yes, it would appear in her stools, their system is not equipped to break it down in the way ruminants such as cows stomachs are.

Regards, John

Has she been doing this ever since you first got her, or has it just developed recently.

Some dogs and certain breeds are aquaholics. Excessive drinking could be caused by many things, but it is possible that your dog just enjoys drinking and it is 'addicted'! If your vet has ruled out diabetes etc, I would also be tempted to look to your dogs diet and what you are feeding them.

Hi - is she on a complete dry food diet? If so, she will drink and drink because she won't be getting any fluid from her food and also the water will swell the food up in her tummy so it fills her up more than it looks like it will when you are putting a few dry, brown round things in her bowl! I have two Labradors on dry food and they drink like there's no tomorrow, but they are only young so perhaps it would be an idea to get her checked out for diabetes.

They also have a penchant for "grazing" and I agree that it does become a habit - I've never noticed it makes them sick but it is true its never digested properly - yuk!

As for the accidents in the house, obviously if she is drinking so much she will want to go more (I know I always do!) so I should let her out in the garden as soon as she's had a big drink. At other times, during the night, when you go out etc, only leave a small amount in the water bowl or, if she isn't on a dry food only diet, pick the water up - she can wait until you get back or get up and then hopefully there won't be any more "accidents".

I don't know what to say about the nervous panting I must say, perhaps something to ask your vet about again. I have noticed though that smaller dogs (although I know chows aren't particularly small - but comparitvely), do pant a lot more than big dogs. Ask your vet and at least put your mind at rest that she's (relatively!) normal.