Opinion Column

Excessive water drinking could indicate age-related disease

By dr. merle marks

The East County News, Nov 30, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

We have all heard how much water we should be drinking each day. Our pets also need plenty of water, up to a point.

The fact is our pets drink what they need and rarely more, so a cat or dog that is constantly at the water bowl can be a tip off to a more serious underlying disease.

Cats are unique as a breed of animal. They “invented” energy conservation. Water drinking is something low on their list of favorite things to do. Ninety percent of cats that make it to 12 years of age will develop one of five diseases in their remaining lifetime:

1) Kidney disease

2) Hyperthyroidism

3) Liver disease

4) Diabetes

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