Inside the canine mind

Why does my dog not drink enough water?

In most cases, refusal to drink can be linked to an injury near or inside of a dog's mouth. Dogs love to chew on things, particularly objects that are tough enough to give their teeth a challenge. It's pretty easy for chunks of wood, plastic, or rock, to end up grinding around inside your pet's mouth, causing small cuts and scrapes that can make it painful to drink. Damaged teeth will also produce very similar effects.

Nerves and anxiety can also cause a loss of thirst and appetite in dogs. These emotions can be linked to a change in surroundings or lifestyle, including new pets or people staying in the house. An absent family member can cause a significant amount of stress as well. In most cases, dogs acclimate to these changes quickly on their own, causing their desire to eat and drink to return after a few days. However, particularly sensitive dogs may need additional assistance to calm down and get well again.

Changes in water can also influence your pet's willingness to drink. Even small differences in taste and smell can be a big deal for your dog. So, if you've swapped using well water with city water, your dogs might not be drinking because they are uncomfortable with it. If this is the case, you can try mixing some bottled water into your dog's dish to help them get used to the change.

Regardless of why your pet stopped drinking, your next step should be to arrange a checkup with your local vet. They should be able to examine your pet to determine exactly what the trouble is and how you can go about fixing it.

What causes algae in a fish aquarium?

Algae thrive on three basic necessities: water, sunlight, and nutrients. If there is an excess of any of these variables, then algae can grow quickly. Obviously, your aquarium cannot go without water but you can control the amount of light and nutrients that are in the water. Some common reasons for algae overgrowth are light left on for too long, aquarium in a location with direct sunlight, overfeeding the fish, going too long between water changes, maintaining water environment with a high nutrient level.

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