Dog Won’t Drink Water Unless I’m Holding the Bowl?
Dogs experience the world differently than we do.
They rely on humans for their care – to provide them with food, water, shelter, and affection.
Some dogs are naturally confident, not afraid of new things or experiences. These are the dogs that will run headfirst into the bushes just to see what they can find.
Other dogs are not as confident moving through the world. They’ll be more skittish, and less likely to want to go to new places or try new activities.
If you don’t have a very confident dog, then even something as simple as a water bowl can be a scary experience.
But because our dogs know that they can rely on us to take care of them, they will trust that whatever we offer them will be safe. Which is why they might only drink water out of their bowl if you are holding it. They know you wouldn’t give them something that could hurt them.
You can work on building your dog’s confidence through praise and rewarding them whenever they approach their water bowl or drink from it.
Dog Having Trouble Drinking Water?
If you notice that your dog seems to be physically having trouble drinking water it might be time for a visit to the vet.
But before you go to the vet, there are a couple of things you can look for.
Check their gums and teeth to make sure there’s nothing wrong with their mouth. If their mouth is hurting, then swallowing the water would be painful and they’d avoid it.
Are they sick? Different illnesses can cause problems with drinking water.
Is their water bowl at the right height for them? With some dogs, especially older dogs, it can be painful or difficult for them to bend down to drink water directly on the ground. Try elevating their bowl to their shoulder height and see if that makes it easier.
Disease and illness
Certain health issues can cause a dogâs thirst to fluctuate. In some cases, illnesses such as diabetes and kidney disease may cause a dog’s appetite for water to diminish completely.
So if you think your dog won’t drink water because of a disease, you should contact your vet immediately. It’s a good idea to write your dog’s drinking behavior down to help the vet figure out the problem.