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My dog had diarrhea, now won't drink water. Is he dehydrated?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Male | neutered | 4 years and 2 months old | 87 lbs

I gave my dog a little bit of wet food and it didn’t settle well, (he has a sensitive stomach and has had bad diarrhea in the past) he had diarrhea for 2-3 days. I was about to take him to the vet but his poop started to get more solid the last day but now he doesn’t seem to want to drink any water and hasn’t pooped in 24 hrs so I’ve been slowly giving it to him in 2 hour increments. I’m worried about dehydration but don’t want to be charged a bunch if it can be fixed at home. What should I do?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on August 28th, 2020

While it is normal to see a period of no pooping after having diarrhea, it is not normal for a dog to not drink water. I am also concerned about Roo getting dehydrated, and I do think it's worth having him seen by a vet. If he is very dehydrated, he will need IV fluids. He should also be examined to diagnose why he's not drinking water. I would take him into a vet now. I hope this helps!

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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