Cats and dogs are typically creatures of habit who thrive on their normal routines. So, when your furry pal changes their eating or drinking habits, you know something is up. Altered appetite and thirst in pets are important clues that guide our diagnostic testing process and can help us make an accurate diagnosis. Read on to learn more about some of the most common conditions that cause changes in your pet’s eating and drinking habits.

Conditions that can increase your pet’s appetite or thirst

Some pets simply love to eat, but their appetite can go through the roof because of several medical conditions. Here are common problems that can cause an increased appetite or thirst in pets:

  • Diabetes — Diabetes can occur in any pet, but more likely will develop in overweight cats and dogs. When a pet develops diabetes—or is unregulated—they will be excessively hungry and thirsty, and will urinate much more than usual.
  • Hyperthyroidism — Hyperthyroidism, which is much more common in cats than dogs, occurs when the thyroid gland kicks into overdrive and produces too much thyroid hormone. This hormone is involved with metabolism, so too much leads to increased appetite, thirst, and urination.
  • Cushing’s disease — Cushingoid pets have an improperly functioning adrenal gland that produces too much cortisol, a steroid hormone. As a steroid, excess cortisol contributes to increased hunger, thirst, and urination.
  • Nutritional deficiencies — Nutritional deficiencies can occur for a number of reasons and will leave your pet feeling unsatisfied after a meal. Intestinal parasites can leach away nutrients, while a low-quality diet may not provide your pet with enough nutrition. Diseases that interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption, such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and inflammatory bowel syndrome, can also increase your pet’s appetite.
  • Medications — Certain medications can treat diseases, but may also adversely affect your pet’s eating and drinking habits. For example, a pet who is taking prednisone for an autoimmune disease will likely be more hungry and thirsty than normal because of the high steroid dose. Or, the diuretic your pet needs for congestive heart failure will pull fluid from the body and cause increased thirst and urination.
  • Kidney disease — Kidney disease is a common problem in dogs and cats, and many urinary issues trigger increased water consumption, because your pet urinates more than normal. One of the kidneys’ roles—filtering out metabolic waste products from the bloodstream—cannot be performed by poorly functioning kidneys, which increases your pet’s thirst and urination. In addition, the waste product buildup causes nausea in your pet, their appetite takes a hit, and they often eat less than normal.

Conditions that can decrease your pet’s appetite or thirst

Pets can experience fluctuations in their eating and drinking habits, but some problems can cause a decreased appetite or thirst. The most common issues that negatively affect your pet’s eating and drinking habits include:

  • Dental disease — Oral pain of any sort can put a damper on your pet’s appetite and thirst, as dental disease makes eating and drinking difficult and uncomfortable. Since almost all pets experience some form of dental disease by age 2, staying on top of their oral health care is critical for them to maintain normal eating and drinking habits.
  • Arthritis — Pets with arthritis pain and decreased mobility who find reaching their food and water difficult often cannot dredge up an appetite or thirst.
  • Pancreatitis — Pancreatic inflammation, which is incredibly painful for pets, can also lead to vomiting. And, despite losing fluid and nutrients because of gastrointestinal (GI) distress, pets usually are not eager to make up for the losses when they are suffering with pancreatitis pain.
  • Infection or illness — In general, any infection or illness that causes discomfort, fever, lethargy, or other health issues will negatively alter your pet’s eating and drinking habits.
  • Aging changes — As your pet reaches senior status, they may lose their vision, memory, and normal mobility, and finding or reaching their food and water bowls may become difficult. 
  • Stress and anxiety — Stress and anxiety are common emotional issues in pets that can manifest as altered appetite and thirst. Some pets, especially those with separation anxiety, may not eat or drink unless their owner is home. Pets who are bullied by other household pets likely will not eat or drink as much as they’d like, because of resource wars at the food bowl. 

You know your pet best, and if they show a sudden or ongoing change in their eating or drinking habits, you know something’s amiss. Schedule an appointment with our Central Kentucky Veterinary Center team to discover the cause of your furry pal’s altered appetite and thirst.