Like humans, dogs need to stay well hydrated to lead a healthy life. Normally, we trust that they are the ones who come to their drinking fountain, although sometimes some health problems prevent it. Therefore we must pay attention to their habits, making sure that drink water regularly. If not, we will have to visit a veterinary clinic as soon as possible.
This problem can have its origin in different causes, which it is essential to identify in order to find a solution. One of the most frequent reasons is stress or anxiety, which will be accompanied by other symptoms such as loss of appetite, drowsiness or isolation. In this case we can resort to some tricks to encourage the animal to hydrate, such as placing drinkers in various corners of the house or offering ice cubes to lick them. It would also be advisable to use a professional educator.
Some enfermedades they also cause this disorder, usually being of a serious nature. These are distemper, parvo, leptospirosis and rabies, among others. All of them require immediate veterinary attention, since in addition to other important symptoms, they can lead to extreme dehydration that worsens the problem and even causes the death of the animal.
It is also likely that the dog suffers some type of disease in the teeth, tongue or gums. It could be a wound, a sore, or another more serious kind of dental problem. For example, infections are common, usually caused by the encrustation of a foreign object or a piece of food. Sometimes medication is enough to calm these conditions, while other times a small surgical intervention is necessary.
There is a simple trick to find out if our dog suffers dehydration. It involves gently pinching your skin between the shoulder blades and checking if it quickly returns to its place. If not, we will have to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.