Article • Designer Mixes

My Dog Is Not Drinking Water

Shari Shidate Designer Mixes contributor

If your dog suddenly isn’t drinking water, it can feel scary fast. Hydration affects everything from digestion to circulation to body temperature. The good news is that many causes are simple and fixable at home, but some need a veterinarian right away.

As a veterinary assistant in Frisco, Texas, I always tell pet parents to focus on two things first: how long your dog has been drinking less, and how your dog is acting overall. A dog who is bright, eating, and peeing normally is a very different situation than a dog who is lethargic, vomiting, or not urinating.

How much water should a dog drink?

Healthy water intake varies with diet, activity, and weather. A common veterinary rule of thumb is:

About 0.5 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day (roughly 50 to 70 ml per kg per day).
Dogs eating canned or fresh food often drink less because their meals contain more moisture.
Hot Texas days, exercise, nursing, and some medications can increase water needs.

Quick check: If you are not sure whether your dog is actually drinking, measure what you put down (in cups or ounces) and what is left 24 hours later. If you have multiple pets sharing a bowl, separate them for a day to get a clear answer. Also account for spills, splashing, and any sneaky “bonus water” like toilets, puddles, or outdoor bowls.

When not drinking is an emergency

Please call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic today if any of these are true:

Your dog has had almost no water for close to 24 hours. Go sooner for puppies, toy breeds, seniors, dogs with kidney disease, heart disease, or diabetes, or if it is hot or your dog is ill. If your dog is also refusing food and water for many hours, do not wait it out.
Vomiting, diarrhea, or repeated gagging is present.
Not urinating, straining to urinate, or crying when trying to pee.
Lethargy, weakness, collapse, or acting “not themselves.”
Dry, tacky gums, sunken-looking eyes, or a fast heart rate (these can suggest dehydration, but dehydration can be tricky to judge at home, so let a vet team confirm).
Heat exposure (panting heavily, bright red gums, drooling, wobbly gait).
Possible toxin exposure (rodent poison, xylitol, certain mushrooms, antifreeze).
Known foreign body risk (chewed toys, socks, corn cobs, bones) with appetite loss.

If you are unsure, it is always okay to call. A quick phone triage can save a lot of time and risk.

Common reasons a dog stops drinking

1) Stress or routine changes

New home, boarding, visitors, travel, thunderstorms, or even moving the water bowl can reduce drinking. Some dogs do not like drinking near noisy appliances or in high-traffic areas.

2) Bowl or water preferences

Dogs can be picky for surprisingly “normal” reasons:

A plastic bowl that holds odor or has scratches.
A tall bowl that bothers a dog with neck pain.
Water that tastes different (new filter, new city water, softened water).
Water that is warm, stale, or shared with another pet who guards resources.

3) Dental pain or mouth problems

Broken teeth, gingivitis, oral ulcers, a stick injury, or something lodged in the mouth can make drinking uncomfortable.

4) Nausea or stomach upset

Dogs with nausea often avoid water, then become more dehydrated, which can worsen nausea. Watch for lip licking, drooling, swallowing repeatedly, or turning away from food.

5) Fever or infection

Upper respiratory infections, urinary infections, uterine infection in intact females (pyometra), and other systemic illnesses can affect thirst and energy. Many infections increase thirst, but when dogs feel truly unwell or nauseated, they may drink less than normal.

6) Kidney, liver, or endocrine disease

We often think these cause increased drinking, but appetite changes, nausea, and overall malaise can lead some dogs to drink less at certain stages.

7) Pain or mobility issues

Arthritis, back pain, or post-surgery soreness can make it harder to walk over to a bowl. This is especially common in larger breeds and seniors.

8) Medications

Some medications can change thirst, cause nausea, or cause dry mouth. If your dog recently started a new medication and stopped drinking, call your prescribing veterinarian before making changes.

9) Physical inability to drink

Sometimes it is not refusal, it is difficulty. Jaw pain, severe oral injuries, neurologic problems, or extreme weakness can make drinking hard even if your dog wants to. This is a same-day vet situation.

At-home checks you can do safely

Look at gums and hydration

Gums: should be moist and slippery, not sticky or dry.
Capillary refill time: press the gum until it blanches, release, and color should return in about 1 to 2 seconds.
Skin tent: gently lift skin over the shoulder blades and release. Slow return can suggest dehydration, but it is less reliable in seniors and overweight pets.

Check urine and stool

Is your dog peeing less, or is urine very dark yellow?
Any diarrhea, black stool, or blood?

Do a mouth check (only if safe)

If your dog allows it, use a small flashlight and look for a lodged object, bad odor, drooling, swollen gums, or a broken tooth. Do not force the mouth open if your dog seems painful or might bite.

Track the trend

Jot down when this started, how much water was offered versus consumed, how often your dog is peeing, and any other symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, appetite changes). This helps your vet quickly triage what is going on.

Vet-approved ways to encourage drinking

These are gentle strategies we commonly recommend in clinics for otherwise stable dogs. If your dog is vomiting, very lethargic, not urinating, or seems painful, skip the home hacks and call your vet.

Refresh and relocate water

Wash bowls daily with soap and rinse well.
Offer water in multiple locations, especially for seniors.
Try a stainless steel or ceramic bowl if you currently use plastic.

Offer a pet water fountain

Many dogs prefer moving water. Keep the fountain cleaned on schedule to prevent slime buildup.

Add safe flavor, lightly

The goal is to make water more appealing without adding problematic ingredients. If your dog has kidney disease, heart disease, pancreatitis history, or needs a sodium-restricted diet, check with your veterinarian first.

Low-sodium broth (onion and garlic free) diluted with water.
Water from plain cooked chicken that has been cooled and defatted.
A small splash of tuna water from tuna packed in water (not oil), only in small amounts since it can add sodium.

Avoid broths with onion, garlic, chives, or excessive salt. Those are common hidden issues.

Increase moisture through food

Add warm water to kibble and let it soak.
Use a portion of wet food or a veterinary-recommended topper.
Offer moisture-rich snacks like a small amount of plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling), if your dog tolerates it.

Try ice chips or pupsicles

Some dogs will lick ice when they refuse a bowl. You can freeze diluted broth into cubes for supervised licking. Do not give large cubes to dogs who gulp or have dental issues.

Separate pets and reduce pressure

In multi-pet homes, some dogs drink less if another dog hovers or guards. Offer water in a quiet spot and give your shy drinker privacy.

What not to do

Do not syringe water into the mouth unless a veterinarian specifically instructed you. It is easy to aspirate fluid into the lungs.
Do not force exercise to “make them thirsty.” This can worsen dehydration, especially in warm weather.
Do not wait several days if drinking is truly absent. Dehydration can become dangerous quickly.

What your veterinarian may do

If your dog is not drinking and you come into the clinic, your vet team typically focuses on hydration, nausea control, and the underlying cause.

Physical exam: temperature, oral exam, abdominal palpation, pain assessment.
Diagnostics: urinalysis, bloodwork to check kidney and liver values and electrolytes, sometimes X-rays or ultrasound.
Treatment: subcutaneous fluids for mild dehydration or IV fluids for moderate to severe cases, anti-nausea medication, pain relief, dental care, or targeted therapy depending on the cause.

If your dog has not been drinking because they feel sick, many dogs improve dramatically once nausea and pain are controlled.

Quick checklist

Has your dog had any vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, or gagging?
Are they urinating normally?
Did you switch food, treats, supplements, or medication recently?
Is the bowl clean and in a calm location?
Have you tried a second bowl material or a fountain?
Can you tempt with diluted, onion-free low-sodium broth (if appropriate for your dog’s health conditions)?
Is there any sign of mouth pain or drooling?
Is your dog getting water elsewhere (wet food, toilet, puddles, snow)?
Has it been close to 24 hours with almost no water, or are they not acting right?

If you take only one thing from this article, let it be this: no drinking plus “not acting right” equals a same-day vet call.

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