One morning at the shelter I saw a dog that was written on the vet board for “drinking excessively, needed second water bowl.”

The vet board is a way for shelter staff and volunteers to communicate to the veterinarians that an animal may need medical attention. Drinking excessively is referred to as polydipsia in the veterinary field and can be associated with a plethora of medical issues such as urinary tract infections, pyometra, kidney disease, Cushing’s, Diabetes and more!

Without knowing anything more, these diseases and their manifestations started flowing through my head as I walked to the kennel where the dog was being housed.

As I walked up to meet Atticus, I smiled.

I was so happy to see that the dog that needed a second water bowl was nothing smaller than a Great Dane. His large stature made his kennel seem small and cramped, which was exaggerated by the comparative small stature of the 5-pound chihuahua next door.

Atticus the Great Dane and his 5-pound Chihuahua Neighbor

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