"I'll do one!!" (Got a boozehound?)

Have you noticed recently that your pet has developed a… ahem… drinking problem?  Lately have they been hittin up the bowl so much that they are peeing in places they shouldn’t?  Like in the house when they used to be able to hold it? Or outside of the litter box?  

Well… the first step to fixing a problem is admitting determining for sure that there is a problem!  If you have noticed an increase in Pedro’s agua drinking then answer the following questions:

-Is it consistent and not associated with an increase in activity level or temperature outside?  (If your pet acts like every day is thirsty Thursday then this is a red flag!)

-Now, count how many times you have to refill the bowl in a day/week.  Has that number increased significantly from before?  (Many owners fail to identify or notice such changes in their pets habits so gold star for you.)

So now you must be thinking, why is this important and what does this meeeean??  What does this meeean??

Drinking a lot (polydipsia aka PD) and peeing an increased volume of urine (polyuria aka PU) can mean a lot of different things.  Some of the most common causes of PU/PD include- diabetes mellitus, renal disease, metabolic diseases, uterine infections (intact female dogs and cats only!) and even possibly (but don’t panic) cancer.  Some drugs can cause PU/PD too- two of the most common ones used include steroids (Prednisone) and the anti-seizure medication (Phenobarbital).  

http://thepetwiki.com/wiki/How_to_Toilet_Train_Your_Cat

So how do we figure out what the problem is?  Routine bloodwork and urine analysis can help rule out obvious causes of an excessively thirsty pet.  But more specialized blood tests, or imaging such as abdominal ultrasound may be necessary to look closer at organs in the body such as the liver, adrenal glands, or the kidneys.  

Treatment will entail addressing the cause of the PU/PD.  Owners should not withhold water from their pets in the hopes that they will stop urinating in the house.  This is cruel and can lead to dehydration!  This problem can be extremely frustrating (but it’s not their fault!) and the sooner the problem is identified, the sooner steps can be taken to manage the disease.  

So pay attention when Fido's had one too many... it can be a sign of other more serious and potentially treatable problems! 

http://www.tanmonkey.com/fun/dog-cat-overdose.php

Cheers!

Dr. Chu

More to love?

Finally convinced that Fluffy's got a badunkadunk?  Check out these tips on how to cut some calories. 

Step away from the beggin strips!

Lots of stores stock tons of fatty, high calorie pet treats.  Skip these (and save some $$$) by feeding healthy snacks you may already have around the house.  Crunchy green beans or fresh baby carrots are a favorite for some of my patients!  My pup will roll over 10 times for some steamed or boiled greens without added oil, spices or seasonings.  Remember- onions and garlic are toxic to pets’ red blood cells (hellooo anemia!) so keep these far away from those furry food monsters.  (nom! nom! nom!) Not sure which veggies are safe? Try some cooked broccoli, celery, sweet potatoes or even a bite or two of asparagus.  (No, I don’t know if it makes their pee smell funny…) A few small pieces of fruit are also a healthier snack alternative.  Good choices include apples and oranges (sans seeds), bananas, cantelope, and watermelon.  Of course steer clear or grapes and raisins as those can cause life threatening kidney failure! 

Just say no!

Make em work for it!

There are lots of products on the market that are made for encouraging activity or slowing down how fast your dogs and cats eat their food.  The basis behind these products are that pets use energy in order to play with a toy until treats pop out of them (yea, kinda sounds a little like torture, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.)  Premier brand has a line of Busy Buddy dog toys for dogs and cats that you can check out.  For bigger dogs with strong chompers a more durable Kong may be a better fit.  Slap a little low fat peanut butter inside of it and stick it in the freezer to keep your big bear entertained.  For those of you who are “frugal” (aka a low budget b*tch like my gal dana) try one of these DIY toys:  Clean out a plastic drink bottle and remove the cap and ring.  Place a few kibble or treats inside and let them play!  Be sure to keep a watchful eye and take it away if they start to chew holes or tear up the plastic.  If the kibble comes out too quickly you can also keep on the cap and drill a couple of holes slightly bigger than the kibble into the bottle.  This will make it much more challenging!

Ball? Where's the ball? Gotta get the ball.

Most pets spend the majority of their time loungin on the couch (lucky bastards).  Well, it's time to get that tail wagging and burn some calories!  Whether its encouraging playing patty cake, fetch, doing this, or just going for a brisk (and glorious in their eyes) walk while makin yellow snow, get active!  For some cats this can mean laser pointer mania, for others it can mean crazy dancing ribbon time. You know what I mean.  It doesn't matter how you do it, but encouraging play is not only good for them, it's good for us too and promotes bonding, exposure to fresh air and even neighborhood socializing. (so you get off ya booty too) 

Special diets

Think you’ve tried everything?  Well, it might be time to bust out the big guns!  And when I say big guns, I mean, a little trip to the vet to get a prescription (at their discretion of course).  While each food differs, in general, they are specially formulated to be lower in calories, sometimes higher in fiber (for dogs) and meant to keep pets fuller longer.  So they feel fuller longer and spend less time begging

 

There are many veterinary prescription diets from companies such as Purina, Royal Canin and Hills.  My favorite one for cats is actually meant for diabetic patients and is called Purina DM.  It's higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates, which is similar to their carnivorous eating habits.  For dog’s, diets such as Purina OM or Royal Canin Calorie Control, can help patients with those stubborn love handles!

Well, hopefully those tidbits help a little bit!  But always remember, when all else fails, YOU are the one who is in control of your pet’s fupa-liciousness (due to the whole no opposable thumbs thing).  Oh yah, and lay off the booze!  

"Bridgette" Terra and her night cap
(Do not try this at home) 

Til next time! 
Dr. (deniez meh cheezburger) Chu