water bowl problems

    • Bronze

    water bowl problems

    My 14 yr old toy poodle just stares at her water bowl.  She refuses to drink from it.  We are syringing the water into her (which she gladly drinks) .The vet has checked her tongue/teeth/mouth/ears/TMJ.....and nothing.  She was on antibiotics for 10 days for an infection and has been having some kidney problems.  She seems to WANT to drink, but just can't get the tongue action going.  Any help or suggestions would be SO appreciated.  Thanks so much.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Sometimes if a dog has a urinary track infection they will stop drinking because it hurts to pee.  Or, they'll drink a ton to try to dilute the urine so it doesn't hurt so much.  It's critical to keep her hydrated, but I also think she needs to be checked for a UTI right away.  Where she's been on antibiotics it's entirely possible that she now has a yeast infection.  Probiotics *might* help, but I'm thinking she needs to be vetted again ASAP.

    In the meantime, KEEP HER HYDRATED.  Little dogs can dehydrate VERY quickly, so do whatever it takes.  Add water to her food, even if it's canned, try giving her sodium free beef or chicken broth, ice cubes, whatever it takes to get fluids into her.  The alternative is her NEEDING IV fluids and if that becomes a long term need, it's not a lot of fun for you OR the dog. I did IV fluids for my cocker boy for months before he went to the Bridge.  He hated it, but did it for mommy.

    Oh, and please post your question in just one thread.  We'll get to helping as soon as we can and you won't have to be jumping all over the board to see what has been written where.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Fourteen year old dogs can also have cognitive problems associated with old age, or nausea associated with the kidney disease.  If she drank, then felt nauseous right away, she might have associated drinking from the bowl with feeling bad.
    If she drinks when you syringe the water in, keep doing it, but also try adding a tiny bit of chicken broth to a water bowl to entice her - perhaps if she takes some, she'll get back in the habit of going to the bowl.
    With kidney dogs, it's important to keep them well hydrated.
    • Bronze
    Hi Everyone......thanks for responding to my post.  We are going to the vet first thing in the morning.  The end of her tongue is discolored and shriveled. ????  I'm thinking thats why she doesn't want to drink.  Anyone ever heard of that?