Puppy will not drink

[Angelthekingcharles]

My 14 week old puppy just will not drink, at all.

I’ve tried bowls, there are bowls, inside, outside. I’ve tried bottles, tried the outside tap. Tried a turkey blaster, bought a pet water fountain. She seems to back away from water. Not interested in water bowls outside shops, cafes etc.

I have been putting water in with her food to try to stop her from being dehydrated.

It just seems so unusual, and such a worry, especially in the heat, and after a walk.

I have made a vet appointment but just wondered if anyone else has experience of this and if it was resolved.

She eats food fine, seems so happy, plays, wags her tail and also goes for regular wees. She doesn’t seem dehydrated.

Have you tried offering puppy milk?

I did offer her milk and she drank it, but I went online to check and read that it’s not advisable! This is why I’ve booked in at the vets, to clarify. But she drank it all!

Have you tried ice cubes or a doggy ice lolly? Would she take it from your cupped hands? What about a visit to a local river/lake to get her immersed?
My dog is very fussy about water, has to be fresh, won't drink from bowls in cafês/pubs etc....

what was she used to drinking from when with her breeder?

I tried cupped hands and she still wouldn’t.

I will try the river/lake suggestion thank you! I’m going to mix her with some other dogs and hope that she sees them drinking and then joins them too.

That’s a good idea shapeshifter88 I’ll give them a ring thank you!

You can give puppies very watery cows milk. I give mine a small cup of semi-skimmed milk added to her water bowl and she loves it. She refuses the red top skimmed milk that I have myself but loves the green top semi skimmed. The vet advised me to do this to make her drink more as she wouldn't drink water and we needed to dilute her urine to stop her getting lots of water infections.

Rattymare thank you so much! I have just done this and she had a big drink thank you! She lapped it up!

Have you thought about poaching some chicken/meat in water, cooling the water and giving her meaty water to drink? That might work.

Yay!! Glad to help

What food is she on? If it's wet or raw food she may be less thirsty as the water content is higher. If she's on kibble you could try adding a little warm water to it which will make a type of 'kibble gravy'.

Obviously as she's a puppy you don't want to risk dehydration but it does sound like she's holding out for another option e.g. milk as she will drink this presumably from the same bowl water was offered?

I’ve taken her to the vet who said she is perfect and in no way dehydrated, she has wet gums, her skin springs back etc. He said she is getting enough water from food and probably when I’m not looking, maybe from her bowl in her crate.

He did mention that I could add water to the kibble if I wanted to.

Thank you for all of your help and advice!

Our lab never noticeably drank in all the years we had her except very occasionally from a stream on a hot long walk.

We always put water in with her kibble. So the kibble was floating. Slowed down her eating and kept her hydrated.

Our lab has fresh water available every day but appears to prefer lapping from a muddy puddle.

From what you have said I think she probably is absorbing enough liquid. Unless you are monitoring 24/7 you wouldn't know. If vet says all is OK, she is OK.