[Gus Gus]

Lately, I’ve noticed my dog goes hard on his water bowl, especially in the evening. During the day, he drinks normally, but once the sun starts setting, it’s like he suddenly realizes he’s been dehydrated his whole life. He’ll stand there gulping down water like he’s preparing for a week-long hike.

The problem is, I’m worried this means he’ll wake me up in the middle of the night needing to go out. I try to limit water before bed, but I also don’t want to make him uncomfortable. Is this normal? Could it be something diet-related, or does he just forget to drink earlier in the day?

Anyone else’s dog do this?

[Danielle DeGroot]

My dog does the exact same thing and starts drinking water like she’s never had any in her life a few hours before bedtime. It always makes a mess, is loud, and, of course, makes her need to go out a couple of hours later. There are a few reasons dogs do this. One is that they can be dehydrated or overheated from the day and may be trying to compensate by drinking a whole bunch when things calm down. If your dog sleeps a lot during the day, he might be thirstier at night because he didn’t get enough during the daytime. Other times, they can chug water like that due to anxiety or even excitement. My dog gets a treat with medication before bed, and she often starts her nightly water guzzle shortly before she knows the treat is coming.

Some dogs drink a lot of water if they are bored. Other times, it can be a sign of an underlying medical condition like diabetes, kidney malfunction, Cushing’s Disease, liver disease, or a urinary tract infection. If you are worried about it being a medical condition, a conversation with the vet is a good idea. Most likely, your pup is fine, but it is always best to check on any kind of behavior change.

You can learn more about dogs drinking too much water in this article, and we also review some of the best dog water fountains, which may help control your dog’s water intake.

[Tara Maurer]

That’s definitely something a lot of dog owners notice! There are a few possible reasons why your dog suddenly goes all-in on the water bowl in the evening.

Some dogs just aren’t great at staying hydrated throughout the day, especially if they’re distracted by playing, napping, or watching squirrels. When the evening rolls around, their body finally registers that they’re thirsty, so they go into full-on hydration mode.

Diet could also be a factor. If your dog eats dry kibble, he’ll naturally need more water than a dog eating wet or raw food. Salty treats or chews—like certain dental chews, bully sticks, or even some processed treats—can also increase thirst.

Activity and environment might play a role too. If he’s more active in the evening or if your home gets warmer at night, he might be drinking more to regulate his body temperature. Some dogs instinctively drink more before sleeping, almost like they’re prepping for a long period of rest.

Excessive thirst can sometimes be linked to underlying health conditions like diabetes, kidney issues, or Cushing’s disease, but that usually comes with other symptoms (increased urination, weight changes, lethargy, etc.). If you’re seeing any other unusual signs, it’s worth mentioning to your vet.

To help balance his water intake, try encouraging small water breaks during the day by refreshing the bowl more often or adding a little water to meals. If you’re worried about midnight potty breaks, give him his last big drink about an hour before bedtime and offer one last potty trip before lights out. If you do cut back water in the evening, don’t restrict it too much—just enough to prevent over-drinking right before bed.

If he seems otherwise happy and healthy, it’s probably just a quirk of his drinking habits. Plenty of dogs do this!

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