Help! Excessive water drinking and uncontrollable urination!

[Gilly1331]

Ok guys I need your help... yes I called the vet but no open appointments due to the holidays and people trying to get in before xmas travelling. So I am on a waiting list for a cancellation.

My almost 2yr old intact male GSD (will be 2 in jan 2012) has suddenly started something very strange over the last 2-3 days. He can't seem to get enough water to the point he is drinking gallons in less then an hour. Then on top of it he has been having uncontrolable urination all day/night. He has never been one to ever have an accident inside once he was poddy trained and will always wake us up in the middle of the night to go out. But over the last few days between this excessive water drinking he has been non-stop urinating. He has to go out every 20 mins or so through out the day/night and can't even make it to the door without peeing. He will then pee forever outside several times.

Nothing has changed in his diet except last month they started fresh ground deer 1x a week, vitamins and extras are all the same., Activity level right now is very low due to a change in our working hours. So all 3 dogs only get their outside exercise in the yard versus our daily 5+ hikes. The other 2 dogs seem fine nothing changed with their drinking/urinating or behaviors. (one dog is a spayed 3yr old female and the other is a intact 10 month old female who has not come into heat yet...and yes both are separated so no mating can occur we are just waiting until after her 1st heat to decide on a spay).

You can tell our male is upset by this new health issue by how he acts and the expressions on his face. He wants to cuddle more bc he knows hes doing wrong by not being able to not control his pee so he feels he needs to be ontop of us 24/7 now.

Does this sound like a bladder infection or something worse? Should I call the vet and push the issue that it is an emergency and not something that could wait like the receptionist said? Worse comes to worse I can always just start calling all local vets to get him in somewhere but I'd rather see the vet who is familiar with him.

Any ideas?? Thanks!

[Emoore]

Could be a bladder or urinary tract infection; could also be a liver or kidney issue. I'd get him in to see a vet NOW.

[JakodaCD OA]

I agree with Emoore, I would want a vet to see him NOW, if your vet won't, then shame on him,,but I would want someone to see him asap..

Let us know how he makes out

[GSDAlphaMom]

Frequent urination is a sign of a bladder infection but I don't think excessive drinking is (which is obviously causing he to urinate more). In humans that is a sure sign of diabetes. I would get him to the vet as soon a possible.

[Jax08]

Excessive drinking is also a sign of a UTI. I would run a sample in first thing tomorrow morning if they can't get him in right away. Waiting list for cancellation? BS!!!...ask to have the vet tech or doctor call you back. This is not a routine exam.

[carmspack]

excessive drinking is one of the first tells for diabetes . If you can't take the dog in , at the very least get a urine sample and take that in and have them test it .
Are you sure that this dog did not get into something that he should not have , which affected his kidneys. Make sure anti freeze is always locked away safely.

[Anja1Blue]

I've never heard of a vet telling a client with an obvious problem (we aren't talking about a hangnail) that there is no time available because of the holiday - which doesn't occur until Sunday I believe. I'd get pretty aggressive about wanting him/her to see my dog, this isn't normal behavior obviously. As others have said, could be a UTI, could be kidneys, could be the onset of diabetes. If your vet refuses to see you I would search for a veterinary emergency clinic/hospital in your area. And look for a new vet.
_______________________________________________
Susan

Anja SchH3 GSD
Conor GSD
Blue BH WH T1 GSD - waiting at the Bridge

[lisgje]

Needs to get to a vet ASAP. This is serious and could be life threatening.

[shell nyc]

Agreed with all above. Could be a “simple” UTI that without treatment may lead to kidney infection, renal dysfunction, etc. PU/PD is also a sign of diabetes insipidus or Cushing’s (less likely with an acute onset, but maybe the signs have crept up?) I can’t imagine a vet not able to take him in for a few minutes for a clean-catch urine sample and culture to at least rule the UTI in/out.

[msvette2u]

Is there an update on this dog?