Does your pet have excessive thirst? Here are the potential causes

Does your dog or cat drink a lot of water? A visit to the vet might be in order, as excessive thirst can signify underlying health problems.

In general, a dog or cat drinks about 20ml to 40ml of water per kilogram of its body weight every day, according to Gething. For example, if a cat weighs 5kg, it would be normal for it to drink between 100ml and 200ml of water per day, or if a dog weighs 25kg, it should drink between 500ml and a litre of water per day, depending on activity levels and diet.

Gething says pets that drink more than 100ml of water per kilogram of their body weight are consuming too much, and the cause needs to be addressed.

"Dogs and cats that drink excessive amounts of water also generally pass large amounts of urine, and this is often one of the signs owners will first notice. A dog may be desperate to go outside all of the time, or may even pass urine indoors when they can't hold on. A cat's litter tray may need to be cleaned and emptied far more often, and, in some cases, the tray may overflow."

Of hormonal imbalances, Gething says: "The most common hormones that can affect drinking and urinating are insulin and cortisol. Diabetes is the result of imbalances in the insulin system, and can be due to poor lifestyle and diet, or in some cases due to lack of production in the pancreas."