Individuals get thirsty a lot and would even go for a water break amidst a chaotic and hassle lifestyle. This same behavior can be seen in canines quickly running over to their water bowl and making a gulping noise of their thirst from exercise or playing. This is perfectly ordinary and something individuals should not be worried about.
But if your furry buddy suddenly loses interest in drinking water for some days, this may indicate a warning sign. So let’s tackle the factors that cause dogs to refuse drinking water.
Why won’t my dog drink water?
Many fur parents generally fret about their dogs not consuming water from time to time. As we may all know, water is amongst the fundamental necessities of life, and if your furry buddy refuses to drink, this could be startling and an indication you must examine. Thankfully, we’ve noted the five main reasons many vet experts suspect dogs refusing to drink water to help you identify what’s triggering their lack of interest in the said issue.
1. Unfamiliar smells and places
Unfamiliar places and smells can be contributing factors. Canines can distinguish between unfamiliar and familiar water sources thanks to their strong sense of smell. If the dog observes the smell of the water as unfamiliar, it may refuse to drink.
2. Food type
Some types of dog food are dry, causing pets to drink more, but the others that contain more moisture may keep your canine drinking less water. If you’ve been feeding your dog dry kibble ever since, expect that it’ll drink more. But if your furry companion has been consuming canned or wet foods, they’ll get water from it, causing them to drink less.
Have you been following your pet’s vaccinations and other regular preventative care? This is vital to keep your furry friend secure from widespread pet diseases and harmful parasites like ear mites, so always keep this a priority to help your pet live healthier and longer.
3. Old age
Dogs that get older drink less water. It’s because their appetite and thirst reactors start to decline, or they do not intend to exert effort in going to the other room to drink water. Since older dogs are not as energetic as younger ones, it’s expected that they won’t drink as much water.
However, even in that old age, they still need to consume enough water. It’s a great idea to feed them wet food occasionally to increase their water consumption, not just drink from their water bowl. If you suspect severe fractures or bone damage from their motion keeping them from consuming sufficient water, have a vet surgeon inspect them to take care of the situation. You may check this link to see the common pet surgeries.
4. Health conditions
Numerous pet diseases can cause lethargy in canines and cause them to dislike drinking water. This includes conditions like bladder infections, viral or bacterial infections, kidney disease or failure, cancer, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, oral pain, anxiety, and any illnesses that cause nausea.
So if you’ve been researching your pet’s condition and discovered it’s cancer, it’s time to speak with specialists that know how to treat and control dog cancer for urgent treatment.
5. Tooth pain or tooth damage
Tooth damage or tooth pain can be a reason pets avoid drinking water. The pain of the sensitive teeth from the cold water can be unbearable for them, causing them to refuse to drink.
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