People get thirsty a lot and would even go for a water break in the middle of a chaotic and hassle lifestyle. This same habit 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 completely normal and something individuals must not be concerned about.
But if your furry friend suddenly loses interest in drinking water for some days, this may indicate a warning sign. So let’s tackle the aspects that cause dogs to refuse drinking water.
Why is my pet refusing to drink water?
Numerous fur parents generally worry about their dogs not consuming water from time to time. As we may all know, water is among the basic requirements of life, and if your furry companion declines to drink, this could be alarming and an indication you ought to investigate. Fortunately, we’ve noted the five primary factors many vet experts suspect for dogs refusing to drink water to help you determine what’s triggering their lack of interest in the said concern.
1. Unfamiliar places and smells
Unfamiliar smells and places 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 as unfamiliar, it may refuse to drink.
2. Health conditions
Numerous pet diseases can induce 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 investigating your pet’s condition and discovered it’s cancer, it’s time to consult with animal oncology professionals for immediate treatment.
3. Food type
Some kinds 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 constantly been eating canned or wet foods, they’ll get water from it, causing them to drink less.
Have you been consistent with your dog’s pet vaccination and other regular preventative care? This is important to keep your furry friend protected from common pet diseases and life-threatening parasites, so always keep this a concern to help your pet live longer and healthier.
4. Old age
Dogs that get older drink less water. It’s because their cravings and thirst reactors start to decrease, or they do not intend to put in effort in going to the other room to drink water. Since older canines are not as energetic as younger ones, it’s anticipated that they will not drink as much water.
However, they still need to drink enough water even in that old age. It’s an excellent idea to feed them wet food occasionally to increase their water intake, not just drink from their water bowl. If you suspect severe fractures or bone damage from their movement that’s keeping them from consuming enough water, have a vet surgery expert examine them to address the situation.
5. Tooth pain or tooth damage
Tooth damage or tooth pain can be a reason 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.
