My French Bulldog Is Not Drinking: Dehydration is a problematic situation for both people and dogs. This is because water is such a crucial element for a multitude of the body’s main processes, namely digestion, circulation, and waste removal from the body.
As a Frenchie owner, there are very few things more unsettling than when your French Bulldog refuses to drink water. Especially if it has been over a day or two. The three main factors seem to be Anxiety, Illness or aging.
How Much Water Should My Dog Be Drinking
| Dog Weight | Amount Of Water Needed |
|---|---|
| 11 lb / 5 kg | 300 ml |
| 22 lb / 10 kg | 600 ml |
| 33 lb / 15 kg | 900 ml |
| 44 lb / 20 kg | 1,200 ml |
| 55 lb / 25 kg | 1,500 ml |
| 66 lb / 30kg | 1,800 ml |
| 77 lb / 35 kg | 2,100 ml |
| 88 lb / 40 kg | 2,400 ml |
| 99 lb / 45 kg | 2,700 ml |
| 110 lb / 50 kg | 3,000 ml |
Dog Dehydration
Dehydration in French Bulldogs is actually quite common but is a life-threatening condition. It is the consequence of not drinking sufficient water and electrolytes. It needs urgent veterinary treatment.
When left unchecked, dehydration may lead to severe organ failure and death.
If you’re concerned that your Frenchie might be dehydrated, call your veterinarian as soon as you can.
The signs of dehydration in you Frenchie:
| Lethargy | Sunken eyes |
| Weakness | Dry gums |
| Your Dog Collapse’s | Loss of skin elasticity |
Having your Frenhie drink a lot of water is typically inadequate to account for the significant amount of fluid they are missing if they suffer from the above internal issues.
You must seek veterinary attention if your Frenchie displays any variations in their urination or drinking habits.
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Dehydration Treatment
When your vet believes that your French Bulldog is dehydrated, they will conduct a full set of tests. The aim of this is to determine the seriousness of dehydration and to determine the potential source of dehydration.
The cause can be apparent, like an upset stomach or heat exhaustion.
However, in certain situations, you might only sense that your Frenchie is just not acting normal. Your veterinarian would probably prescribe certain examinations, such as blood and urine sample, x-rays and ultrasound scanning.
The most successful way to address dehydration is to put your Frenchie on an IV drip. This would restore any fluids that have already been lost and will avoid further dehydration. Another method of rehydrating your Frenchie is the administration of fluid underneath the skin to create a fluid lump.
This fluid would then be consumed over a couple of hours. Even so, it’s much less effective in resolving dehydration than an IV drip and is only appropriate for mild forms.
Oral rehydration methods may also be used, but these are only helpful if your French Bulldog can still drink and holds the liquid down. Dependent on your Frenchies symptoms, antibiotics, anti-sickness drugs and pain medication may also be needed.
You must discuss with your veterinarian the appropriate course of action for your French Bulldog.
Anxiety Can Cause Your Dog To Not Drink
Like people, dogs feel anxiety. It’s a completely natural reaction, even though it’s uncomfortable. Dog anxiety can affect many breeds and can impact each dog differently.
While it is something that all dogs feel from period to period, if high levels of anxiety are left untreated, the dog may form an anxiety disorder.
Separation anxiety is the most common form of anxiety and estimated to affect about 15 per cent of all dogs.
A French Bulldog experiencing separation anxiety will be unable to seek solace when left by themselves or separated from their family members.
This anxiety also expresses itself in unhealthy habits, not drinking or eating, urinating and pooping in the home, damaging belongings and plants, and barking.
The signs of Anxiety in you Frenchie
So how do you tell me if your Frenchie has anxiety? There are a variety of significant signs to watch out for:
| Not Drinking or Eating | Aggression |
| Urinating or defecating | Drooling |
| Destructive behavior | Depression |
| Excessive barking | Restlessness |
| Pacing | Panting |
Dog Anxiety Treatment
The easiest way to handle your Frenchies anxiety is to chat with your vet. Your vet will help you determine the type of anxiety that your Frenchie is suffering from and the potential causes and stimuli.
Your veterinarian may also rule out any health issues that could worsen the symptoms of your French Bulldog.
Your vet will come up with a course of treatment. Since extreme anxiety often is triggered by several causes, the ideal way to treat it is typically through a mixture of training, prevention measures and, in some instances, medication.
Training
There’s a whole variety of training techniques that can be used by yourself to combat your dogs anxiety. Counter-conditioning is one way.
The aim of reconditioning is to adjust the reaction that your Frenchie has in situations that causes its anxiety, typically by replacing anxiety or aggression with more positive actions, such as lying down or concentrating on yourself.
Anxiety Medications
If your Frenchie develops a severe anxiety condition, your vet can prescribe drugs. SSRIs and antidepressants are usually administered for anxious dogs, particularly fluoxetine or clomipramine.
Disease and Illness Can Cause Your Dog To Not Drink
Some health issues may cause your Frenchies thirst to vary significantly. In some situations, conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease can cause a dog’s water appetite to decrease entirely.
Infection with the bladder or urinary tract may also cause a reduction in thirst. But if you don’t think your Frenchie can drink its water due to disease. Then you should contact your vet immediately.
Aging Can Cause Your Dog To Not Drink
An elderly Frenchie can also stop drinking water simply because it takes far to much energy to get to the water source. And also that the awareness of thirst might be declining along with their appetite.
Older French Bulldogs need less activity and are not as thirsty as younger dogs could be. Even so, older dogs have to maintain sufficient hydration, so if drinking seems to be a problem, changing to wet food can help.
As always, consult your veterinarian before adjusting your Frenchies food.
How To Encourage Your Frenchie To Drink
Your French Bulldog should be drinking daily. If it doesn’t occur, there are a few things you can do to encourage your Frenchie to drink water:
| Clean water bowl: It’s worth making sure your Frenchie’s water bowl is clean. It’s an easy thing to do, but it could encourage them to start drinking again. |
| Position: Even adjusting the location of the water bowl will often work. |
| Wet food: Another idea is to blend wet dog food with water. And if your Frenchie doesn’t drink from the bowl, it will happily drink water whenever it’s mixed with food. |
| Type water bowl: Try and avoid metallic water bowls as your Frenchie could be afraid of the sound. If necessary, use a heavy glass bowl. |
| Contact vet: If your French Bulldog still will not drink water or they are struggling from illness. Then you must notify your veterinarian as quickly as practicable. In case of illness, proper hydration is vital to the healing process, and it is also very vital that your Frenchie receives professional support. |
