Why is drinking water important for your dog?
It is a well-known fact that we cannot live without water. In fact, 70-80% of dog’s bodies are made up of water and water is a vital component that keeps our bodies functioning. Humans can go without food for 3 weeks but we cannot last 1 week without water. For canines, they can go for a week without food and last for a few days without water. It is precisely why it is so important to keep your doggo well-hydrated to keep her in tip-top condition and well-functioning.
Water is a critical component of keeping the body functioning by facilitating many vital processes from digestion, metabolism, breathing and excreting. Water keeps your pup from dehydration, regulates body temperature, digestion, removes toxins and wastes from the body and facilitates movement in the joints.
Why is my dog not drinking water?
Here are 3 reasons why your dog refuses to drink water:
1. Change in water source
Some dogs may be less willing to drink from another source if they are accustomed to drink from a tap or a bottle of distilled water. To help your pup adjust to the new water, simply start by mixing the 2 different types and gradually add more of the new water until your dog doesn’t make a fuss out of it.
2. Health issues
Many health problems can affect your pooch’s appetite for water. Bladder infections, urinary tract infections and diabetes are some of the common illnesses that cause reduced thirst. Other illnesses such as kidney disease and gastrointestinal infections make dogs nauseous and possibly cause their appetites for food and water to decrease. If your dog is vomiting and has reduced thirst and appetite, quickly send your dog to the vet ASAP so the underlying cause can be diagnosed and treated immediately.
3.Old age
As dogs get older, their hunger and thirst receptors tend to deteriorate and using the energy to walk to a room to drink may take too much effort. Older dogs don’t exercise as much as before and that’s why they don’t get as thirsty as younger pups. However, it is still important for older dogs to drink an adequate amount of water. Maybe it would help to switch from dry food to wet food so your pup will still get some liquid into his system without force feeding her to drink water.
Read more: 10 Signs That Your Dog Is Dehydrated
5 Simple Ways To Get Your Dog To Drink Water
Add multiple bowls at different locations
It’s so simple, right? Leave multiple bowls at different rooms or common areas where the water bowl will mostly be in your pup’s line of sight. So whenever your pup feels like drinking water, the water bowl is right there at her service. By keeping the water bowls around them is a great way to reinforce water drinking behavior habits.
Pet fountain
Interestingly, studies have shown that dogs prefer to drink running water to a stagnant water source because the running water tends to look safer and grabs their attention compared to stagnant water. Having running water constantly is a great way to ensure that the water is clean and no debris will be left. However, this is not a one size fit all solution. Some dogs get really excited from a water fountain but some won’t drink from it even if their lives depended on it. So, know what appeals best to your pup.
Add ice cubes
Throwing in some ice cubes into the water bowl will shake up the normal water routine and it is perfect for a hot summer day. Chances are that your pup will start chewing on them and get some fun out of it.
Add water to their food
I found this method to be particularly effective with my dog. He usually avoids drinking water even when the water bowl is right at his face so to entice him, i added water to his food and that really incentivised him to drink the water to eat the food. This depends from dog to dog as other pups do not even fall for this trick so it helps to know what your dog is strongly incentivised by- food, playing catch, rubs etc and leveraging those to your advantage.
Flavour the food
Flavoring the water with milk or low sodium chicken broth, beef broth or bone broth is an excellent way to get your pup to drink water. Add a few tablespoons of broth or milk and that should do the trick.
Read more: Why Does My Dog Snore?
How to Get a Sick Dog to Drink Water
7 tricks and tips to get your sick to drink water:
- Feed high water content fruits – watermelon, strawberry, papaya
- Make homemade ice cream
- Make a simple flavorful ‘dog smoothie’ – preferably use your pooch’s favorite fruits
- Freeze a peanut butter mixture with water overnight as a delicious treat (consult with the vet to ensure peanut butter is safe for your dog to eat)
- Give wet kibbles, instead of the dry kibbles
- Offer your pup a cup of low sodium beef or chicken broth
- Use a syringe (if pup is incapacitated)
Pro tip: Using a syringe is particularly helpful for dogs that are too sick to even stand to drink water. What you can do is suck some water from the bowl into the syringe then gently open your pup’s mouth and squirt the water in her mouth. When the dog swallows, repeat the process until your pup is filled.
If your dog refuses to drink water, contact your local veterinarian
In the event your dog just plainly refuses to drink water to the extent that it starts affecting your pup’s health, it is mighty wise to call the vet. There might be underlying issues that are causing your pup’s desire to drink water so it is safer to bring your pup to the vet for a checkup especially if your pup recently underwent a surgery.
How much water should a dog drink a day?
According to PetMD, as a general rule of thumb, a dog should drink 1 ounce of water per each pound of their body weight. So for example, a 15 pound dog would need to drink 15 ounces of water each day. However, there are several factors that affect a dog’s intake of water so try not to restrict your dog from drinking water whenever she wants to.
However, if you are concerned that your pooch is not drinking enough water, you could bring your pet in to the vet. Do not underestimate the importance of hydration for your pooch. Proper hydration is key to a healthy and happy dog.
Here’s a chart of how much water your dog should be drinking daily:
Frequently Asked Questions
[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h3″ question-0=”How can I tell if my dog is dehydrated?” answer-0=” Signs of dehydration in dogs can include dry gums and nose, lethargy, loss of appetite, sunken eyes, dark urine, and a lack of skin elasticity. If you see these symptoms in your pup, do not fret; by providing ample fluids through water and moist foods and this would often restore your dog’s water balance. ” image-0=”” headline-1=”h3″ question-1=”Why is my dog not drinking water but eating” answer-1=”If your dog is eating but not drinking water, there could be several reasons for this behavior. Some of the most common causes include: 1. Illness or pain: If your dog is not feeling well or is experiencing pain, they may be less likely to drink water, but still have an appetite for food. 2. Change in water source: Dogs can be sensitive to the taste and smell of their drinking water. If you recently changed your dog’s water source or dish, they may not like the new taste or smell and may be less likely to drink. 3. Medication side effects: Some medications can cause dry mouth or decreased thirst in dogs, which may result in reduced water intake. 4. Behavioral issues: In some cases, dogs may develop behavioral issues that cause them to avoid drinking water, such as anxiety or fear of a particular location or object associated with the water bowl. However, if this behavior prolongs for more than a few days, bring your pup to the vet for an extensive check to ensure there are no serious underlying medical conditions. ” image-1=”” headline-2=”h3″ question-2=”Why is my dog not drinking water while being on antibiotics?” answer-2=”There are a few reasons why your dog may not be drinking water while taking antibiotics: 1. Side effects of the medication: Some antibiotics can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite, which can also lead to a decreased desire to drink water. 2. Bad taste: Antibiotics may have a bad taste or odor, which can make it unappealing for your dog to drink water. 3. Dehydration: Antibiotics can cause diarrhea or vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. If your dog is already dehydrated, they may not want to drink water. You may want to try adding a low-sodium broth to their water or offering wet food to help keep them hydrated. It is also a good idea to speak with your veterinarian, as they can evaluate your dog’s overall health and determine if there are any underlying issues that may be causing the lack of water consumption.” image-2=”” count=”3″ html=”true” css_class=””]