Individuals get thirsty a lot and would even go for a water break amidst a stressful and hassle lifestyle. This same habit can be seen in pets hastily running over to their water bowl and making a gulping sound of their thirst from exercise or playing. This is completely normal and something people should not be worried about.
But if your furry friend suddenly loses interest in drinking water for some days, this may show a warning sign. So let’s discuss the elements that cause dogs to refuse drinking water.
Why is my dog refusing to drink water?
Many fur parents typically worry about their dogs not consuming water from time to time. As we may all know, water is among the basic necessities of life, and if your furry buddy declines to drink, this could be startling and an indication you ought to investigate. Fortunately, we’ve noted the five primary reasons many vet professionals suspect for dogs refusing to drink water to help you identify what’s causing their lack of interest in the mentioned concern.
1. Health conditions
Numerous pet diseases can cause 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, 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 meet with professionals specializing in veterinary oncology in Corpus Christi for immediate treatment.
2. Old age
Dogs that get older drink less water. It’s because their cravings and thirst reactors start to decrease, or they don’t intend to exert effort in going to the other room to consume water. Since older pets 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 a great idea to feed them wet food sometimes to increase their water consumption, not just drink from their water bowl. If you suspect severe fractures or bone damage from their movement that’s keeping them from drinking adequate water, have an animal surgeon assess them to attend to the situation.
3. Unfamiliar places and smells
Unfamiliar smells and places 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.
4. 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 pet 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 following your pet’s vaccinations and other routine preventative care? This is necessary to protect your furry friend from rampant pet diseases and dangerous parasites, so always make this a priority to help your pet live healthier and longer. You may browse the web to see more about the importance of consistent preventive care for pets.
5. Tooth pain or tooth damage
Teeth damage or toothache can be a reason why pets avoid drinking water. The pain of the sensitive teeth from the cold water could be unbearable for them, causing them to refuse to drink.
