How to Get My Dog to Drink More

Trying to get your dog to drink more water can be challenging.

You cannot explain to your dog the importance of drinking water. Usually their instinct takes care of this issue and they readily drink the water that you set out. Water helps control your dog's internal body temperature and keeps its electrolytes in balance. When your dog is not drinking enough water, it is cause for concern. Lack of thirst can indicate the presence of serious health issues and must not be ignored. If your dog's health has been checked, there are a few tricks to help coax it to increase its water consumption.

Instructions

1. Add water to your dog's food. Make it very soupy and use a canned moist food instead of kibbles.

2. Clean the water bowl and add a tablespoon of sugar to the fresh water. Dogs usually like a sweet taste. If the sugar does not appeal to your dog, add some low sodium chicken broth. If this trick doe not work, put a small treat in the bottom of the water bowl and see if it will drink the water to get to the treat.

3. Fill an eyedropper with water and squirt the water between the clenched back teeth. You can use Pedialyte or Gatorade in place of water to balance the electrolytes.

4. Feed your dog ice cubes. Some dogs regard them as treats and will eat them.

Tips & Warnings

• If your dog is not drinking water, it should immediately be checked by a veterinarian. The dog may have an obstruction in its mouth or throat that is preventing it from drinking water. It might be suffering from nausea, indicating another disease is present. If your dog is dehydrated, it can cause an imbalance in the electrolytes. This can cause damage to the heart and can be life-threatening. Dehydration can damage the kidneys.

References

• See Fido: How much Water Does a Dog Need
• Dogtime: Keeping Your Dog Hydrated