Why Your Dog May Have Stopped Drinking Water
It's common for dogs to drink water at various times throughout the day. Different dogs can have different routines. Some drink when they finish eating their food, while others will drink after going for a walk. As a pet owner, you should make a point of noticing how often your pet drinks its water. It can be a concern if you see that the water dish remains full, which is an obvious indicator that your dog has stopped drinking. A dog that doesn't drink water is at risk of dehydration. It's a good idea to take your pet to the local animal hospital if you've seen this change in its water consumption habits. Here are some reasons that the dog may have stopped drinking.
Dental Pain
Dogs can develop all sorts of dental issues throughout their lives, especially as they get older. Gum disease, tooth decay, and other issues can cause the inside of the dog's mouth to feel sore — which means that it may not like the feeling of water in its mouth. For example, cool water may make a sore area feel sensitive and worsen the pain. If this happens, your dog may quickly decide to stop drinking water. Your local veterinarian can carefully assess your dog's dental health to determine what might be wrong.
Stomach Issues
Various stomach issues can affect a dog's appetite, and while it might still eat some or all of its food, you could notice that the animal has stopped drinking. For example, if the dog feels discomfort in its stomach or elsewhere in its digestive system after drinking water, it will rapidly learn to eliminate its water intake. Stomach and digestive issues can be a little more challenging to determine, but your veterinarian can perform scans and run tests to learn if something in this part of your pet's body is affecting its intake of water.
Mobility Problems
Like humans, dogs can develop arthritis and become stiff as they get older. Certain simple movements that may not have been an issue in the past could now be problematic. There's a chance that your dog has stopped drinking water because it finds that the act of lowering its head to the water bowl is uncomfortable. This is something that could be possible with arthritis in the neck, back, or shoulders. If your veterinarian suspects that mobility issues as a result of arthritis are to blame for the dog's lack of water intake, they'll advise raising the water bowl so that it's more easily accessible.
For more information, contact a hospital such as Center-Sinai Animal Hospital.