What Is Canine Diabetes Insipidus?

Canine diabetes insipidus is a form of canine diabetes that is less common than the well-known diabetes mellitus. It can be difficult to diagnose because it shares many of the same symptoms. However, the two types of diabetes are not related. Diabetes insipidus is when your dog's body is unable to regulate water, earning the disease the nickname, "water diabetes."

The inability to conserve water results in a need for the dog to drink constantly. And because it's constantly drinking, the dog also needs to urinate frequently. The problem is more noticeable in indoor dogs due to housebreaking "accidents" in the home. Unfortunately, so many types of health and behavioral issues can cause dogs to soil in the home that it's difficult to pinpoint the exact issue. Dogs are sometimes surrendered to shelters or even put down because owners consider the house-soiling as a behavior problem!

It's also easy to miss the signs if a dog has a constant supply of water and easy access to the outdoors to relieve himself.

The symptoms of diabetes insipidus in dogs are constant thirst or drinking, frequent urination, and very dilute urine (eg. it looks clear, rather than yellow). It may be caused by trauma or by a tumor.

A constant and ample source of water must always be available to dogs with canine diabetes insipidus. Do not limit the dog's water intake! Dogs with the disease must have enough water to drink as much as they need in order to survive. If you believe your dog may have this disease, pay a visit to the veterinarian. Tell him what you think and if he doesn't have experience with this fairly rare disease, ask if he knows another vet who does. Diabetes insipidus is treatable with medication.