doesn't want much water

[grjoga]

My Dolly is in good health and has a good appetite, but when it comes to drinking water, she rarely does. She doesn't seem to have any problems from not drinking much, but I worry about it. Has anyone had this problem with their yorkies? I appreciate any feedback.

[Nancy1999]

Does she eat canned food or kibble, canned food has lots of water in it and she may not need to supplement with any extra water. Dogs don't perspire, they lose water through urination and breathing, if your air is humid, they don't lose as much water when the breath. If you think she really needs more water, I would try ice cubes, some dogs really go for those. I would also try bottled water and a different bowl, to make sure it wasn't something about the bowl or water that was bothering her. Last resort, I would make some homemade chicken broth, no fat or salt and see if she’d drink that.

[grjoga]

Thank you for your answer. She does eat only canned food. She had lost most of her bottom teeth when I got her making dry kibble difficult for her to chew. I'll try the ice. That just might work with hot weather coming on.

[AbbyMax]

On average dogs should have about 1 oz of water for every 1 pound of weight.

This will vary depending on dry or wet food, activity level, etc.

You can test the elasticity of your dogs skin - gently pull up on the skin on the back of her neck. If it goes back quickly, then she should be fine. Dogs do tend to loose elasticity as they get older. This may not help if your dog is overly skinny or chubby.

I would monitor her behavior (as you have been doing) for any changes or symptoms. A quick trip to the vet may help to determine if there is an issue or not.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by grjoga

Thank you for your answer. She does eat only canned food. She had lost most of her bottom teeth when I got her making dry kibble difficult for her to chew. I'll try the ice. That just might work with hot weather coming on.

Canned food is mostly water, she probably doesn't need any extra water. The ice may not work since she has no bottom teeth.

[grjoga]

I did try the ice. She likes to lick it! Thanks again!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by grjoga

I did try the ice. She likes to lick it! Thanks again!

Oh good!

[grjoga]

Thanks Abbymax and Nancy 1999! I began to wonder if she wasn't drinking her water due to the dental rinse I put in it. I use the Oxyfresh oral hygiene solution to aid in her dental health. She had already lost a lot of teeth when I got her, so brushing etc. is very important to me plus she eats only canned foods.
The Oxyfresh is tasteless. I did try the skin test and she passed (I think). She may be in for a trip to the vet after all. Thanks again.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by grjoga

Thanks Abbymax and Nancy 1999! I began to wonder if she wasn't drinking her water due to the dental rinse I put in it. I use the Oxyfresh oral hygiene solution to aid in her dental health. She had already lost a lot of teeth when I got her, so brushing etc. is very important to me plus she eats only canned foods.
The Oxyfresh is tasteless. I did try the skin test and she passed (I think). She may be in for a trip to the vet after all. Thanks again.

Oh is that something you add to a dog's drinking water? I've read a number of people who say their dogs will not drink the water, in which the additives have been added. Maybe you could try one of the dental sprays that soften tartar. We use PetzLife, but there are several others.