It's hot up here and I keep checking Morse's water bowl as he pants and toddles about the house looking for a cool place - it stays 1/2 full all day and tonight after his walk he limped on his off hind leg - no apparent injury. Could he be dehydrated and how do I encourage him to drink ? He eats complete food so I feel he should be drinking more. Thanks.

Have u tried offering icecubes? Thats what I give to my dogs when I want them to have a lil water, but not too much after a walk.

ttfn :)

Lascaux is also not drinking much so I'm giving the ice cubes, putting out loads more water bowls around the house which he has the odd lap at and putting water into his food - he is not eating very well either because of the heat but at least he is getting some of both.

Hey, what a great idea! I heard on the news that London Zoo was making blood lollies for lions and leaf lollies for giraffes in the heat and I did wonder about ice cubes. Will try wetting his food again too.

My dogs dont drink much either but they do love ice cubes.

Hi,

Assuming he's still keen on his dinner in this heat (and he has a kibble which won't go mushy and horrible), you could also mix plenty of water with his dinner, then he gets that as 'gravy' while he's eating.

M.

I can't get our two girls to drink much either, nor can I keep them in the house as I've got the back door open when I'm home and they WANT to be outside - go figure!! They will sit outside and pant away, so I've resorted to putting wet towelling coats on them yesterday and today. The panting stopped, and they have both even come in. Usually they hate wearing coats, but today when I picked the coats up and called them to come for them they both came racing to get them and didn't fuss, nor did they try to get them off. I wonder if they've twigged that the coats are keeping them cooler?

When they do come in they then go lie in front of the fan.

I would like them to drink more, but I think that's just my own way of seeing that they're okay. As long as you've got some way of keeping them cool even if they're not drinking too much I think they'll be okay. Moistening food as suggested below might be the way to go.

Wendy

I'm trying out the external cooling ideas - he likes a paddle in the old kids pool and having water dripped on his back and loves chasing ice cubes over the (clean) kitchen floor. Other wise he lies out in the sun then toddles in to cool off and back out again. He does like his food damp too.