Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
I would like to get my female pointer to drink more water. Anyone have any ideas to encourage that besides mixing water with her food?? I don't want to feed her before going to the field, but would like to hydrate her before running her.
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Maybe try adding honey to the water? I've never met a dog wise enough to be proactive on hydration. Just have to have plenty of water along when they need it.
Tim
Tim
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
My puppy is the same way, I put ice cubes in his water and it does the trick
- Winchey
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Glycocharge
- displaced_texan
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
In my experience dogs drink when they are thirsty. Some just don't want as much water.
- Ruffshooter
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
I for years worried about My GSP Mercy; I do not know how she survives yet she does, 14 years almost. Now that she is so old, I do now put water and canned food just to make sure she eats and gets enough water to break down the dry kibble that is mixed in.
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
SCT -
Cut the dog loose and then call it in about five minutes into the run and offer water. If the dog is thirsty, it will drink. If not...not.
Different dogs reaquired different hydration levels it seems. I have had some that will stand in the puddle and look around while their bracemate is down on its belly slurping it up or all they are worth. Same level of exertion same time on the ground...different requirements.
RayG
Cut the dog loose and then call it in about five minutes into the run and offer water. If the dog is thirsty, it will drink. If not...not.
Different dogs reaquired different hydration levels it seems. I have had some that will stand in the puddle and look around while their bracemate is down on its belly slurping it up or all they are worth. Same level of exertion same time on the ground...different requirements.
RayG
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
I have an 18 months GSP that is the same way. I am very concerned about him getting heat exhaustion or heat stroke. When he wont drink water, I take a water bottle and pour cool water into his mouth. He won't drink the water but seems to help cool him off a bit. Not sure if it does any good but makes me feel better anyway.
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
X2 There seems to be a correlation between when I feel thirsty and when I think they should be thirsty..displaced_texan wrote:In my experience dogs drink when they are thirsty. Some just don't want as much water.
- Winchey
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Mine don't drink enough when hunting. They refuse, I know they don't drink enough because when they get back home they drink a gollon each. I think they would perform better if they were hydrated when they hunt. Heck athletes hydrate before performances whether thirsty or not. I know if I am not feeling well and I drink a few litres of water whether I am thirsty or not I feel better afterwards.
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
If they are thirsty, they drink. My pointer drinks like crazy, my GSP not so much.
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Sounds like there are no answers to my question because many have tried things with no success. I now have four dogs from this line and they just refuse to drink unless it's really hot or they've worked when it's hot. Do they need it? maybe not. But, I would feel better if they'd drink a few ounces before I run them. She will drink water with her food which pleases me, just wish I could get her to drink early, before a run.
Thanks all,
Steve
Thanks all,
Steve
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
someone recommended Glycocharge and I suppose it could work because its laced with liver
- mountaindogs
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
In winter I add chicken or turkey stock (low sodium-homemade) to the water to get them to drink before it freezes. About 1/4 cup broth per gallon water depending on the dog.
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
I like this idea even just for some early morning water.mountaindogs wrote:In winter I add chicken or turkey stock (low sodium-homemade) to the water to get them to drink before it freezes. About 1/4 cup broth per gallon water depending on the dog.
- displaced_texan
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Don't worry about your feelings, worry about the dogs needs, and they know how much water they need better than you.SCT wrote:Sounds like there are no answers to my question because many have tried things with no success. I now have four dogs from this line and they just refuse to drink unless it's really hot or they've worked when it's hot. Do they need it? maybe not. But, I would feel better if they'd drink a few ounces before I run them. She will drink water with her food which pleases me, just wish I could get her to drink early, before a run.
Thanks all,
Steve
You can force a dog to drink by pouring water down its throat.
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Ditto.Winchey wrote:Glycocharge
- Fran Seagren
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Here's some ideas.
I agree that some dogs need more water than others - my five are a perfect example. But, I still like to (at least) encourage my dogs to drink a little more when we are going hunting, or training on warm or hot days. I put a small amount of milk or some chicken fat in their water. But, because I don't want to "over water" them, I don't give them too much because they love it and will drink as much as I give them. I've also read that feeding a diet with a higher fat content will help keep dogs hydrated.
I agree that some dogs need more water than others - my five are a perfect example. But, I still like to (at least) encourage my dogs to drink a little more when we are going hunting, or training on warm or hot days. I put a small amount of milk or some chicken fat in their water. But, because I don't want to "over water" them, I don't give them too much because they love it and will drink as much as I give them. I've also read that feeding a diet with a higher fat content will help keep dogs hydrated.
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
I do feed high fat food and also add raw chicken and hamburger to their food. My dogs have no clue when we're going out in the field so they don't know to hydrate prior to running I'll probably just dose their "prior to running" water with some chicken stock. Done deal!
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
SCT wrote:I do feed high fat food and also add raw chicken and hamburger to their food.
that may be why they don't drink much. And remember that a belly full of water (or food) prior to a run is a good recipe for gastric torsion, which pretty much equals death in most cases. most dogs would only need about 40 mls of water per pound of body weight per day, on the high end. Maybe a little more, depending on conditions.
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
Thanks Doc, but I would never give her a belly full of water or food before a run. Just a few ounces like stated earlier.
- Brazosvalleyvizslas
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
I add K9 SuperFuel to their water if I think they need more hydration but I do it after they run. Too much before or immediately after is asking for trouble.
Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
My dog didn't want a drink during our NAVHDA field run yesterday and the judge walked up and said "this is how you water a dog" and grabbed his muzzle and literally shoved the water bottle in his mouth and poured water down his throat. I was just like, ok. lol
- displaced_texan
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Re: Pointer doesn't drink enough. Any ideas???
On very rare occasions in the heat of summer (100°+) I've done that. Usually when I didn’t have a bowl available. My last dog didn't like drinking when I poured it out of the bottle.cbump wrote:My dog didn't want a drink during our NAVHDA field run yesterday and the judge walked up and said "this is how you water a dog" and grabbed his muzzle and literally shoved the water bottle in his mouth and poured water down his throat. I was just like, ok. lol