What clinical condition is indicated by excessive thirst in animals?

Excessive thirst in animals, known as polydipsia, is often associated with a condition that also includes excessive urination, termed polyuria. Together, they are collectively referred to as PU/PD. This clinical condition can be indicative of various underlying health issues such as diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, or kidney disease, among others. In these cases, the animal's body is signaling an imbalance, prompting them to drink more water to compensate for fluid loss or to manage high blood sugar levels.

While dehydration does lead to increased thirst, it is a separate condition stemming from fluid loss, and resolving dehydration can reduce thirst. Similarly, kidney failure may result in polydipsia as the kidneys struggle to concentrate urine, but it is more specific than simply noting excessive thirst. Difficult breathing is unrelated to thirst and does not connect directly to the primary symptom of polydipsia. Consequently, the option that best encapsulates the condition defined by excessive thirst is the one referring to both excessive thirst and excessive urination.