5 Reasons Dogs Won’t Drink Water

Individuals get thirsty a lot and would even go for a water break amid a busy and hassle lifestyle. This same habit can be seen in dogs hastily running over to their water bowl and making a gulping sound of their thirst from exercise or playing. This is entirely ordinary and something individuals should not be concerned about.

But if your furry friend suddenly loses interest in drinking water for some days, this might show a warning sign. So let’s talk about the elements that cause dogs to refuse drinking water.

Why is my pet refusing to drink water?

Numerous fur parents frequently worry about their pets not consuming water from time to time. As we might all know, water is amongst the fundamental needs of life, and if your furry companion refuses to drink, this could be worrying and a warning sign you must investigate. Thankfully, we’ve noted the five main reasons many vet professionals suspect pets refusing to consume water to help you recognize what’s triggering their lack of interest in the said issue.

1. Food type

Some types of dog food are dry, causing pets to drink more, but the others which contain more moisture might keep your canine drinking less water. If you’ve been feeding your dog dry kibble ever since, assume it’ll drink more. But if your furry buddy has constantly been eating canned or wet foods, they’ll get water from it, causing them to drink less.

Have you been consistent with your pet’s dog vaccinations and other routine preventative care? This is necessary to protect your furry friend from prevalent pet diseases and harmful parasites, so always make this a priority to help your pet live longer and healthier.

2. Unfamiliar smells and places

Unfamiliar places and smells can be contributing factors. Dogs can distinguish between unfamiliar and familiar water sources thanks to their strong sense of smell. If the dog determines the smell of the water is unfamiliar, it might refuse to drink.

3. Old age

Dogs that get older drink less water. It’s because their cravings and thirst reactors start to diminish, or they do not want to put in effort in going to the other room to consume 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 to increase their water intake, not just drink from their water bowl. If you suspect severe fractures or bone damage from their motion that’s keeping them from consuming adequate water, have professionals specializing in veterinary surgery in Corpus Christi examine them to attend to the situation.

4. Health conditions

Numerous pet diseases can induce lethargy in dogs and cause them to dislike drinking water. This involves conditions like bladder infections, viral or bacterial infections, kidney disease or failure, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, arthritis, oral pain, anxiety, and any illnesses that cause nausea. So if you’ve been researching your pet’s condition and found out it’s cancer, it’s time to speak with professionals specializing in oncology for pets for urgent treatment.

5. Tooth pain or tooth damage

Teeth damage or toothache can be a reason why dogs avoid drinking water. The pain of the sensitive teeth from the cold water could be intolerable for them, causing them to refuse to drink.