DOG DRINKS AND URINATES CONSTANTLY

Question
I HAVE A 6 YR OLD YELLOW LAB WHO GOES THROUGH EPISODES WHERE HE DRINKS AND URINATES CONSTANTLY. WHEN HE URINATES HE WILL STAND IN THE YARD FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES URINATING CONSTANTLY. HE HAS ALWAYS TAKEN VERY LONG TO URINATE,HE'S NOT EVER PAINFUL JUST VERY SLOW. IT'S ALWAYS VERY CLEAR NEVER HAVING MUCH YELLOW COLOR.HE HAS HYPOTHYROIDISM SINCE HE WAS 1YR OLD AND HE GETS CHECKED REAL OFTEN FOR THYROID LEVELS AND THERE JUST RIGHT. ALSO HE WAS COMPLETELY CHECK OVER ON TESTING OF KIDNEYS AND BLADDER 1 YR AGO WHEN HE WAS GOING THROUGH THIS BEFORE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE.IF WE BLOCK HIM FROM THE WATER DURING THE NIGHT HE WILL TRY THE TOILETS OR ANYTHING ALSO IF YOU DON'T GET UP TO LET HIM OUT A COUPLE TIMES A NIGHT HE WILL GO ON THE FLOOR AND THATS A NIGHTMARE HE'S 100 PDS.IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THIRST QUENCHER DRINKS FOR DOGS OR IS THAT NOT A GOOD IDEA?WE ALSO SHAVE HIM TO KEEP HIM COOLER AND SHEDDING LESS THAT DOES NOT SEEM TO HELP VERY MUCH EITHER.  ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED THANKS

Answer
Drinking excessive amounts of water and not concentrating urine is not normal. These can be symptoms of several different diseases. http://www.cushings-help.com/case_study.htm  Your boy really needs to be tested again, and if your vet doesn't think anything is wrong, then get a second opinion elsewhere. Not all vets graduated in the top 10% of their class!

The only true thirst-quenching drink that I am aware of is water. Most products have sugar in them, which makes one even more thirsty.

Is your dog overweight? At 100 lbs., he sounds like he could be. Getting any excess weight off of him would make him more comfortable and not feel quite so hot. All dogs should be kept slightly on the thin side.

Karen