Polydipsia

Polydipsia is an abnormally high water intake, and it often accompanies polyuria, an excessive production of urine, the combination abbreviated PU/PD. In dogs, polydipsia is generally defined as drinking more than roughly 100 ml per kilogram per day, while in cats an indicative threshold often cited lies around 45 to 50 ml per kilogram per day, though these values vary with diet, activity and climate, and an animal fed dry food drinks more than one fed [wet food](/glossary/wet-food) (PU/PD thresholds, veterinary literature; WSAVA). Polydipsia is an important warning sign, because it can reveal [chronic kidney disease](/glossary/chronic-kidney-disease), [diabetes mellitus](/glossary/diabetes-mellitus), hyperthyroidism in cats, hormonal disorders or the effects of certain medications. A clear and persistent increase in drinking therefore warrants a consultation, and the veterinarian may ask for intake to be measured over twenty-four hours, with watching the water level in the bowl a simple cue. The marker: polydipsia should not be dismissed, because it frequently reflects an underlying imbalance that benefits from early diagnosis, distinguishing it from a normal rise in drinking during hot weather. It is the mirror of [dehydration](/glossary/dehydration) at the other extreme and a frequent first clue to the metabolic diseases discussed in the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

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