Hello all,

My 16 week Flat-coat puppy is drinking gallons. We have two flat-coats, the eldest is just a year old. Both are on dry food and I feed them separately because the pup would eat everying in sight otherwise (the year old is a 'delicate' eater and likes to take her time!).

I'm really worried this drinking - he can drink 2 - 3 pints in an hour if we let him. Of course there is the added problem of a not too house-trained dog with a constantly full bladder - the kitchen is awash!!! I've dipped the urine with my urine testing sticks (I'm a midwife) - there is no sugar in it so I guess he's not diabetic (do dogs get type I diabetes anyway???)

What advice can anyone give to limit his water supply, whilst making sure that she is not deprived??

Best wishes

Hi,
My first reaction would be to feed him his food soaked. Dry food, fed dry, means the dog has to drink large quantities to stay healthy, because it contains about 80% less water than tinned food. If his urine is fine, I wouldn't be too worried.
:)

Hi Rustie, I have a f/c too, never had any problems with her drinking too much, snorting into her water bowl and spraying the around the kitchen ...yes :)
I don't think it's good to limit a puppies access to water, and I'm sorry I have no suggestions as to what could be causing this. I'm sure someone will be along shortly with some suggestions for you.

Let me know how you get on :)

liberty

How about just putting a saucer of water down and not a bowl/dish ?
That way he's still getting water but not guzzling it .
Lel

My retriever pup drinks loads, when she goes to the water bowl shes there for absolutely ages, although i think some of the time she is playing with it. It makes house training very difficult as you have to take them out more often than normal. She is perfectly healthy in herself though. I have recently started to add a little water to her dried food which has helped a little bit.

I have had a couple of pups (not f/c) that, I think, just loved drinking water & did have to restrict their intake. However they weren't on dried food, so I think perhaps soaking his food might help

Are you sure your dog does not have diabetes, or urinary infection? Dogs will drink alot to make their urine more watered down so it doesn't burn when they go to the bathroom.

I would get a vet check just to make sure all is healthy :)

Hi, 2 pints of water an hr = a 1 gallon every 4hrs, that sounds like too much even for a dry fed dog, thats if he`s drinking it & not playing with it :) Measure the amount you put in his bowl & see how long it lasts to know what he`s drinking & speak to your vet about it. I looked after a dog once & the only sign he had of a urine infection was his drinking a lot of water. Dogs can get diabetes. I wouldn`t limit his water, dogs usually only drink because the need to.

Christine, Spain.