I have an overweight, very agressive Boston Terrier (he is often confused for a pit bull). He pushes 40 pounds but is just big all over. It is a major ordeal to get him into the vet once a year for his shots so any possibly medical is a nightmare. He has started drinking about 4-5 full bowls of water a day. He is indoors, he does play with toys but he is not an overly active dog. Recently his nose has started drying out and cracking a little. He will be 9 next week and this has all started very recently. He eats very normally, he plays, goes to the bathroom regularly and other than the nose and drinking all seems like normal. Any ideas or suggestions would be great.

Originally Posted by taswell

I have an overweight, very agressive Boston Terrier (he is often confused for a pit bull). He pushes 40 pounds but is just big all over. It is a major ordeal to get him into the vet once a year for his shots so any possibly medical is a nightmare. He has started drinking about 4-5 full bowls of water a day. He is indoors, he does play with toys but he is not an overly active dog. Recently his nose has started drying out and cracking a little. He will be 9 next week and this has all started very recently. He eats very normally, he plays, goes to the bathroom regularly and other than the nose and drinking all seems like normal. Any ideas or suggestions would be great.

Yes, get the dog to the vet regardless of the struggle...that's what crates are for. Excessive thirst is a clinical sign of many illnesses, to include diabetes, renal failure and many more.

I agree with Crestie, please contact the vet and have him take a few tests. I did own a Beagle-Terrier mix once who displayed similar behavior and was diagnosed with diabetes. My 12 yr old Shepard drank excessively for a while and was diagnosed with a a kidney problem which a specialized diet took care of.

[lulusmom]

I agree with the others. You need to get your boy to the vet. Boston Terriers are a breed that are more likely to get cushing's and excessive drinking and peeing is just one symptom of the disease. I have two dogs with cushing's and one of them had a crusty, dry nose before we started him on treatment. I am a member of a cushing's forum and I know that other pet owners with cushdogs have reported the dry, cracked nose. This isn't one of the symptoms that you'll find in the textbooks though. If your boy hasn't had a senior blood chem panel done in the last year, your vet will probably want to do one and he or she will most certainly want to do a urinalysis.

As Crestiersq and Pauli have already mentioned, excessive drinking and urination are clinical signs that can be associated with many conditions, including diabetes, cushing's, urinary tract infections and bladder stones.

Please let us know how the vet visit goes.

i agree with everyone. take him to the vet. hope everything will turn out ok

Well, over the last few days we have done some "testing" ourselves. My husband and I have come to the conclusion that we have a very needy, spoiled boy. Friday I put out a full bowl of fresh water before I went to work, came home 6 hours later and it had not been touched. I walked in and he started gulping it down. I got on the computer,, he did the same thing. He knows that he gets all of my attention when he is doing this. He also is doing this at 1:00 am,,, when he gets in the BATHTUB to get a drink fresh from the faucet because I allow him to get me up,,, while I am up I also let him outside. I did not let him do this to me last night and he didn't touch his water bowl. He does the same thing with his food, he wont eat a bite all day long, when we get home he scarfs it down like he has been starving all day. The nose, I have another idea,, he is a digger and I have been taking him to the country alot (our other house) where he digs and digs,,, roughing up his nose. I am going to keep an eye on him. His shots are due next month and he will be tranquilized so the vet can look at then. I will keep an eye on though, (bad as he may be) he is still my baby.

Increased thirst is the first and most common sign of diabetes and or Cushings Disease. I would have him check by the vet. They can draw blood and or do a dipstick in his urine. Good Luck!

Taswell, my dogs are like that also. It's as if they want an audience when they eat and drink.

I can leave a piece of meat for him by his food bowl and leave it while I work. The minute I come in he will eat it. Since I have been on the computer (about 1/2 hour) he has gotten 2 big drinks and now is sitting by the door. He knows I will get off of the computer and take him for a walk. I honestly think he is too smart for MY good! I think I have him trained but I think he has trained me!

I know that one too!

[lil mutt]

Originally Posted by taswell

I can leave a piece of meat for him by his food bowl and leave it while I work. The minute I come in he will eat it. Since I have been on the computer (about 1/2 hour) he has gotten 2 big drinks and now is sitting by the door. He knows I will get off of the computer and take him for a walk. I honestly think he is too smart for MY good! I think I have him trained but I think he has trained me!

that's cute... My dog also somehow knows my schedule... especially lunch time!