Hi there,
I have a little Miki, who is about 5 lbs, and he is 6 yrs old. He gets water up his nose when he drinks, and it sounds as if the water gets stuck, sounds and looks like he tries to breath in and out, and coughs (sounds more like a honk) so naturally, he's got great anxt over it all. So, he takes a little bit, wines, walks around his cup, etc. He's so fearful to drink he won't do it unless you have your hand on the bowl, or cup. Sometimes he won't drink unless your finger is there to too! It all seems so crazy but since I'm in a dog forum I know you'll all understand :)
Should I just let him go so far that he just "has" to drink it himself? I do the whole Cesar Milan process, I take a deep breath, re-assure him, tell him good boy when he does it.
What to do? Is this a developed behavior based on what has happenend to him so he thinks it will happen everytime? Or, is it mechanical and he should see the vet?
Thank you for reading, and your thoughts.
Many tiny dogs have weak tracheas (Tracheal Collapse).......Yes, he probably has picked up on the reaction if he gets a drink, thus the hesitation.....
Here's what to do: Get a tiny bowl (If you haven't already) & raise to up a couple of inches.....This should help....Plus, make sure your feeding at least 1 meal @ day of moisture rich foods......Be it fresh cooked veggies, High quality canned food, small amounts of fruits or any healthy leftovers from your own table (Including lean meats).......The extra moisture will provide a better hydration source if he isn't consuming enough water on his own.......
Straight Kibble fed dogs spend their whole life in dehydration......It really does lead to serious issues down the road......Add some moisture as much as you can, then he won't have to drink as often........Let me know if this helps & good luck......Karla