Polydipsia and Polyuria in Cats

Polydipsia and Polyuria (excessive drinking and urinating) in Cats

By: PetPlace Veterinarians

Section: Diagnosis In-depth

Veterinary care should include diagnostic tests and subsequent treatment recommendations.

Diagnosis

Diagnostic tests used to determine the cause of polyuria and polydipsia should be considered based on results of a complete medical history and thorough physical examination. Baseline diagnostic tests that your veterinarian may request to evaluate a cat with polydipsia may include:

  • Measurement of water intake at home by the owner (to document the presence of polyuria).

  • Complete Blood Count (CBC)

  • Serum chemistry tests (including electrolytes)

  • Urinalysis

  • Urine culture and sensitivity

  • Serum thyroid hormone (T4) concentration

    Depending on the clinical situation, your veterinarian might recommend additional diagnostic tests to further investigate the cause of polyuria and polydipsia and provide optimal medical care for your cat.
    Examples of other tests that may be requested include:

  • Plain abdominal X-ray

  • 24 hour creatinine clearance to evaluate the filtering function of the kidneys

  • Water deprivation testing and anti-diuretic hormone response test

  • Specialized thyroid function tests such as T3 suppression test and radioisotope thyroid scan to evaluate for hyperthyroidism

  • Serum parathyroid hormone measurement

  • Abdominal ultrasound exam

  • Chest X-rays, cytological evaluation of lymph node and bone marrow aspirates to evaluate for the cancer lymphosarcoma in cats with hypercalcemia (high blood calcium concentration)

  • Special dye contrast study of the kidneys (called intravenous pyelography or excretory urography) to evaluate for pyelonephritis.

    •  
    Printable Version
     
    Have a Pet Question?
    Review the Most Frequent Questions
    Answered by Dr. Jon and His Staff of Veterinarians
    Ask Dr. Jon
    Dr. Jon's Newsletter
    Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
     
     

    Related Articles

    • 1 Diabetes in Cats

      Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of cats. It is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the body’s ability to metabolize sugar....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2 Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure in Cats

      Chronic kidney failure is a common problem in all cat breeds. When the kidneys fail, they are no longer able to remove waste products, and toxins build up in the blood producing clinical signs of kidney...

      Read MoreRead More
    Related Articles
    • 1Diabetes in Cats

      Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of cats. It is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the body’s ability to metabolize sugar....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure in Cats

      Chronic kidney failure is a common problem in all cat breeds. When the kidneys fail, they are no longer able to remove waste products, and toxins build up in the blood producing clinical signs of kidney...

      Read MoreRead More
     

    Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

    Dogs & Puppies
    Cats
    Related Articles
    • 1Diabetes in Cats

      Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common endocrine (hormonal) diseases of cats. It is a chronic condition in which a deficiency of the hormone insulin impairs the body’s ability to metabolize sugar....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Chronic Renal (Kidney) Failure in Cats

      Chronic kidney failure is a common problem in all cat breeds. When the kidneys fail, they are no longer able to remove waste products, and toxins build up in the blood producing clinical signs of kidney...

      Read MoreRead More