Polydipsia is a sign or symptom indicating, due to lack of sufficient insulin, the body is unable to properly metabolize carbohydrates. With the addition of proper treatment, the symptom resolves, as the system now has enough insulin to accomplish this process properly.
Caregivers should provide adequate clean drinking water for their diabetic pets at all times. An animal's water consumption will diminish as it becomes more regulated and, if a switch is made from a dry-food diet to a wet-food diet, the animal will obtain more of its hydration from the wet food, which is often 70% or more moisture.
Polydipsia results in polyuria, or excessive urination. Together, the three "polys"--polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia, excessive hunger, are vicious circles of uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes.
Normal non-polydipsic water consumption is about:
- ↑ Kidney Disease. Pet Education.com-Drs. Foster & Smith.
- ↑ Uterine Infections. Pet Education-Drs. Foster & Smith.
- ↑ Cushing's Disease. Pet Education-Drs. Foster & Smith.
- ↑ Richards, Mike. Increased Drinking & Urinating. Richards, Mike-Vet Info4Dogs.
- ↑ Nelson, Richard (2002). Polyuria, Polydipsia & Diabetes Insipidus. WSAVA.
- ↑ Diabetes Mellitus. Petplace.com.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lunn, Katharine F., James Katherine M. (2007). Normal and Abnormal Water Balance: Polyuria and Polydipsia. Compendium.
- ↑ FAQ's About Diabetic Dogs-Dr. Greco. BD Diabetes.
- ↑ Rickards, Rick. Canine Diabetes-FAQ's. PetTalk.com.
- ↑ Pounds to Kilograms/Kilograms to Pounds online converter. Open Toronto.
- ↑ Lyman, Ronald (2001). Diabetic Management is Doctor/Client Responsibility. DVM News Magazine.
- ↑ Polydipsia & Polyuria in Dogs. Petplace.com.
- Urine Volume and Specific Gravity Merck Veterinary Manual
- Logical Approach to Polyuria and Polydipsia Church, David B., 2009, WSAVA
- Differential Diagnosis of Polydipsia ProVet UK
- Polydipsia and Polyuria Washington State University
- Study Case — A Mixed Breed Dog with Elevated Blood Glucose and PU/PD Stortz, James P., et. al., 2005, University of Georgia
- Disturbed Vasopressin Release in 4 Dogs with So-Called Primary Polydipsia van Vonderen, Ilse K., Kooistra, Hans S., Sprang, Elpetra P.M., Rijnberk, Ad, 1999, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
- Vasopressin Response to Osmotic Stimulation in 18 Young Dogs with Polyuria and Polydipsia van Vonderen, Ilse K., Kooistra, Hans S., Sprang, Elpetra P.M., Rijnberk, Ad, Meji, Björn P., 2004, Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine