This case example is for educational purposes. Names and details are fictional.

Pete the 12-year-old Maltese x Poodle seemed to be drinking A LOT. But as the weather had been hot, his owner Courtney initially didn’t think too much of it.

However, when Courtney realised a few days later that Pete was waking up at night to drink large amounts, even when it wasn’t that warm, she started to feel like something could be up.

Courtney phoned her local veterinary clinic to book an appointment, and two days later, took Pete along to see his regular vet for an assessment of his polydipsia (increased drinking).

On questioning about Pete’s activities, Courtney told the vet that Pete’s always hearty appetite was unchanged, but he did seem like he’d been panting more (which she had initially attributed to the weather).

The vet discussed potential reasons for a senior dog to drink more than usual, such as kidney disease, liver disease, or hormonal imbalances such as diabetes or Cushing’s disease. She advised starting off diagnostics with a general assessment of Pete’s organ health, through blood pressure measurement and blood tests.

Pete’s blood pressure was normal, but his blood tests showed a few abnormalities, most notably some significant elevations in his liver parameters. The vet advised that this could fit with a primary liver issue, but could also indicate Cushing’s disease – a hormonal imbalance involving the excessive production of cortisol within the body, which can affect the liver and other organs.

It was advised for Pete to be booked for a day in hospital to undergo an ACTH stimulation test (a blood test that can screen patients for Cushing’s disease), as well as sedation for an abdominal ultrasound to check his liver and adrenal glands (the site of cortisol production in the body).

Pete’s results confirmed a diagnosis of Cushing’s disease, so he was recommended to start on a long-term medication to help control his symptoms. Pete’s polydipsia has resolved, and he seems more like his normal self again, though still definitely enjoys his tucker!