Why Does my dog child not drink anything?
The Getting used to a new home is a very special time for dog and owner: Not everything always goes smoothly from the start, for the little four-legged friend the first moments are not only exciting but also stressful.
A lot is happening to him at the same time: The puppy has just had to permanently separate from his mother, his siblings, the breeder as a human caregiver and his first living environment. Over time he will forget most of this, but the beginning can be quite hard for the animal.
nervousness & Fear
It can often be observed that the little baby dog is very nervous for the first few days nervous is. The four-legged friend often becomes afraid if it is not yet used to you and your family tremble and the Ears back place.
This often works initially with one Refusal to eat along. Then the puppy not only eats little or no food, but also doesn't drink very much.
This is due to stress as well as stress Uncertainty: When the animal comes into its new pack with human and sometimes animal roommates, it is still unsure about it Ranking in the unclear. He then simply doesn't dare to eat food because he doesn't know whether it's his time to eat or whether it's someone else's turn.
Dog has to drink first «learn»
Basically, every dog instinctively knows that they need fluids to survive. That's why puppies cling to their mother's teats when they are still blind and deaf.
The transition from mother's to puppy's milk and water is initially overwhelming for many four-legged friends. After all, there is a clear difference between sucking and drinking. If the animal doesn't know how to absorb the water, it stops drinking and the puppy becomes more and more emaciated.
Counterfeiter bowl
Very often one plays incorrect original equipment with: The water bowl is then too large so that the dog cannot find a comfortable drinking position. Often he doesn't even get the thirst-quenching water.
If the dog owner does not recognize this problem, he or she often comes to the wrong conclusion that the animal is refusing to drink. In reality, the puppy wants to drink, but unfortunately he can't.
It is also possible that the Water bowl scares the four-legged friend: Metal models, for example, can rattle quite a bit and the puppy will quickly get scared and avoid their watering holes.
Side effect of one Vaccination
In rare cases, dogs will also refuse to drink fluids if they are after one Vaccination come from the vet.
This is usually an allergic reaction to a vaccine. In addition to refusing fluids and solid food, fatigue, behavioral problems and other symptoms often occur that would suggest an infection.
But that doesn't mean that I want to advise you against having your dog vaccinated – on the contrary, the advantages absolutely outweigh the disadvantages and can save your darling's life, especially at a young age!
diseases & Gastrointestinal problems
Like human children, young dogs are special susceptible to infections. In some cases, these “teething diseases” even make sense, as they help to build up the still weak immune system.
When a puppy feels tired, he often sleeps significantly more than usual. He often has little desire to drink, which disrupts his fluid balance. What is characteristic of this cause is that it occurs suddenly. Often the puppy has had a good drink beforehand, but it is also possible that the animal comes from the breeder already weakened.
They are very common in young animals Gastrointestinal problems occur in which a lot of fluid is lost. This is because puppies' digestion can become irritated very quickly; there is hardly a dog child who does not suffer from nausea and/or diarrhea. Also Parasites such as worms can be responsible for this.
A lot of thirst is also possible
However, the opposite is also possible: Many puppies react to infections with an increased feeling of thirst, even then you should remember that an illness could be involved.
What can I do if the puppy doesn't want to drink?
If the puppy isn't drinking enough, you should definitely take this seriously. A balanced fluid balance can quickly become an emergency, especially at a young age.
Dangerous situation
Dogs usually keep it about six days without fluids although the period can also be shorter under severe conditions such as heat.
Puppies, on the other hand, become dehydrated much more quickly: Your small body needs a constant supply of water – if this is not present, the situation can quickly become life-threatening. The immune system and organ functions are then at risk, and long-term consequences are also possible.
Common symptoms of dehydration
- Fatigue & apathetic behavior
- Nervousness, ears pulled back, licking of the muzzle
- Increased body temperature
- Dry muzzle & mouth
- Dog urinates little, urine has a strong yellow tone
- Skin is more wrinkled than usual.
bowl change
It has often proven successful with puppies, on one smaller, deeper water bowl to avoid. If your little four-legged friend is afraid of the massive model, other materials such as plastic or rubber are also recommended.
Easily accessible, small travel bowls are often completely sufficient for dog children. You can also take these with you on the go so that the animal has something to drink at any time. Some dog owners have also had good experiences with special drinking fountains.
From the hand or Bottle let drink
If your puppy is very suspicious, it can also be helpful to ask him drink from your hand allow. Immediately after arrival it may also be the case that a… Feeding bottle set is the better choice.
This shouldn't be a permanent solution under any circumstances, but at the beginning it's much better than letting the young dog become dehydrated.
Switch to others Type of feed
If your puppy is fed dry food and is very lazy to drink, it may well be better to stop Wet food to switch. Wet food has one very high liquid content, which – depending on the variety – is usually between 60 and 80 percent.
When the dog has an appetite, he becomes like this hydrated while eating. In the long run, however, this is not enough, so you have to continue to encourage him to drink.
If you want to stick with dry food, cold-pressed or semi-moist dog food can also be a good alternative, as it does not absorb water unnecessarily. You can also find more on the topic here.
Water “enrich”
Furthermore, puppy owners have also had good experiences with reducing the drinking water at least temporarily.to enrich”, to make it more exciting and sometimes more nutritious for the young four-legged friend.
These include, among others:
- Soak dry food in water
- Hide something tasty, like a few pieces of liver sausage or fruit in the water
- Place a small toy or other interesting object in the bowl; the dog has to drink if he wants to eat it with his mouth
- If dehydration is imminent, the water can also be mixed with electrolytes.
Injection for difficult cases
If your dog is already showing severe symptoms of dehydration, you should definitely go to the vet. It can then be a quick, but also brutal, measure for the dog To squirt water into the throat.
You need one for this Syringe without needle. Please note, however, that such a club may only be taken out if: acute need for treatment consists. Furthermore, the puppy must be conscious otherwise he could quickly suffocate.