How to get more fluid into a dog with urine infection

sheramber

As well as adding water or broth to his meals- like adding milk to cereal- you could add some yoghurt to his water.

Some dogs will eat ice cubes when it is hot.

Sagz_2

Does your dog like ice? Mine love to crunch ice cubes.

You could also flavour the ice, tinned cat food is always a favourite of my hounds.

krlyr

Have you tried just soaking his kibble? It'll add moisture without adding extra salt etc through stock/Bovril and similar.

GwylimT

I know with cats you must not add liquid to dry food due to the high bacteria content, I don't see why dry dog food would be bacteria resistant.

Broth only has salt if you choose to add it.

System

I'd soak your dogs kibble too.

krlyr

GwylimT wrote: »

I know with cats you must not add liquid to dry food due to the high bacteria content, I don't see why dry dog food would be bacteria resistant.

Broth only has salt if you choose to add it.

Bacteria isn't really going to multiply to dangerous levels if soaking kibble for 5 minutes. I'd pour some near-boiling water from the kettle on top, soak for long enough for the water to have cooled down, and feed as-is.

Plus, healthy dogs (and cats) have fantastically great digestive systems (short digestive tract, strong stomach acid) perfect for coping with bacteria. It's why they don't get sick eating raw meat, poo, dead seagulls, rubbish from the bin, etc.

hollydays

Thanks all.
He won't take ice cubes and ive even tried chipping off bits of ice but he's not having it!
It's cooler today and I'm hoping he continues to improve.
Only getting tablets down him in pieces of soft cheese . He won't eat kibble on its own, he needs tempting.
Usually I put his kibble down and it's " take it or leave it" , he's pretty self regulating with food normally.
I gave him a bit of ice cream last night , it was so humid in the evening .
I wouldn't normally , but poor thing, coping with urine infection and the heat.

sheramber

dogs normally donl' like wet paws. I have used that to get my dog to take small amounts of water. Dribble it onto the front paw, dog licks it off.

jrtfan

You could try making a sloppy meal with chicken broth, finely-chopped chicken breast meat and something like a tablespoon of plain low-fat cottage cheese/yogurt. When my dog wouldn't drink I fed this to him 3 times daily to keep his fluid intake up (1 chicken breast over the course of a day). Hope your dog feels better soon.

missbiggles1

GwylimT wrote: »

I know with cats you must not add liquid to dry food due to the high bacteria content, I don't see why dry dog food would be bacteria resistant.

Broth only has salt if you choose to add it.

Most frozen chicken breasts are plumped up with salt water.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2519822/Secrets-supermarket-frozen-chickens-pumped-water-additives-cement-mixer-style-machines.html