Hi Darryl & Nakita,

Thanks for your question.

More testing is needed because like you, I’m suspicious something could be wrong here. I would recommend that you perform a urinalysis and a ‘culture and sensitivity test’. These should be done at the lab. This will determine whether the urine is pH balanced, if there are crystals, abnormal cells or bacteria present. The culture and sensitivity test is highly sensitive for infection and will also indicate the antibiotics needed to resolve the infection if one is present.

If this is all negative, I would recommend performing bladder radiographs and blood work. There are multiple conditions that can cause increased drinking and urinating that can only be found by testing the blood. The radiographs may reveal an abnormal anatomical issue or a stone or growth of some kind in the bladder that is unlikely but still a possible cause.

Lastly, I would then recommend a water deprivation test only if all results are normal, your veterinarian agrees and if excessive drinking and urinating is present.

Dr. Clayton Greenway