[Fur Elite]

I wanted to share a word of warning to those of you who may crate your poodles for extended periods without water or restrict water. I was at a dog show this weekend and talked to two different people whose poodle's bloated after consuming large amounts of water. Both cases were dogs who weren't given water in their kennels during the day and then allowed to drink freely. My advices is that if you crate your poodles during the day, leave water they can access. If for some reason you can't allow your poodle to drink during the day, monitor their water intake and don't le them drink too much at once (take the bowl away for a while and then give it back).

 

[cowpony]

I'd think that routinely restricting water would increase the chances of urinary tract stones too. Seems like a bad idea all around.

 

[Mercury's Mom]

Geez! Ive been doing that. My dogs aren't crated but spend most of their time inside. I moved their water outside because Jupiter has taken to dumping and splashing their water all over the place every day. Huge mess. I have noticed my shar pei gulping water when she is outside. I guess I need to find a better way to do things. Thanks for the warning.

 

[Locket]

You can get bowls that are difficult to tip, or get a metal pail and clip it to something sturdy so they can't knock it over and dump it.

 

[bigredpoodle]

I have always used x-pens and the bowls that hang on the side. This way they can have their woobies too. I never use crates at shows..Also in
arizona it is hot so I carry a spray bottle with water and squirt water in the dogs mouth and the pads of the feet...

 

[KPoos]

There are a lot of factors with bloat. Genetics is a big factor and age is another and breed is number 1. This is a good article on bloat for those that are afraid of putting their dog's water outside. I think it will be okay and I will continue to do ours that way.
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1571&aid=402

 

[Fur Elite]

It is another risk factor. It was heartbreaking to hear the stories. They were both beloved pets and it happened in an instant. One survived after a $3200 surgery, sadly the other did not make it. One had bloat in the pedigree, the other did not. A very high price to pay financially and emotionally, and a risk I wouldn't personally take on with a breed prone to the condition.

 

[Fluffyspoos]

At the salon I work at water has to be kept in their kennels AT ALL TIMES! Even thought most of the dogs don't touch it, it's there if they need it.

 

[plumcrazy]

I was going to reply that the only time I restrict water is during potty training, but then I decided to re-word my post and say that I SCHEDULE water (I don't really restrict it) When the water is scheduled, the puppy is more likely to pee on a schedule, too - but I'd never totally restrict water from a housetrained dog. Meau stays in a crate during the day while we're at work and she has a water bowl hanging from her crate door at all times even while in the crate.

 

[KPoos]

Aww that's it plum, scheduled! Yes the dogs on are a water schedule like food schedule, thank you.

 

[Mercury's Mom]

My dogs are allowed to have a drink wenever they want, they just have to go outside to do it. My shar pei has started to gulp her water and food now that the boys live here as well and Im afraid she will get bloat. Perhaps I should free feed instead of having them on a scheduel? The reason I haven't so far is that Xin will eat if it's in front of her just to make sure no one else gets it first.

Ive tried several kinds of water dishes but Jupiter either picks it up with his teeth and dumps it or splashes it with his feet or sits in it. It's not fun to clean up after. Wet floor, wet dog. I had a bucket attached to the baby gate about a foot off the floor and he lifted it with his head and dumped it. I tried a feed bowl like what horses use and he sat in it. He splashes or dumps it them rolls in it. Why? Just because he can, I guess. It's certainly not hot here and he is shaved down so I think he just does it for grins and giggles.

 

[flyingduster]

I've heard of ice/icey water causing bloat before too: linky
and I can see how if you've restricted water and they're desperate for it that they'll gulp it all down and it can do the same thing.

But I still won't keep the water inside. I have two dogs, neither of them gulps water desperatly when they're let out, infact they generally go for a hoon around the yard before coming back to have a drink at the door; including my terrier who spends 8 hours in her crate all day with no water. My dogs KNOW that they don't get water inside, so they are used to the schedule of when they're let out and they'll drink happily then if they need to, or they won't. They have never been desperate for a drink.

 

[roxy25]

I've heard of ice/icey water causing bloat before too: linky
and I can see how if you've restricted water and they're desperate for it that they'll gulp it all down and it can do the same thing.

But I still won't keep the water inside. I have two dogs, neither of them gulps water desperatly when they're let out, infact they generally go for a hoon around the yard before coming back to have a drink at the door; including my terrier who spends 8 hours in her crate all day with no water. My dogs KNOW that they don't get water inside, so they are used to the schedule of when they're let out and they'll drink happily then if they need to, or they won't. They have never been desperate for a drink.

What you posted describes Enzo ! When he is crated he never gets water and when i let him out he does not gulp it down he will play with me for a long time before even trying to get water. We have water on the ground 24/7 for the cats and the cats and Enzo use the same bowl. I restrict Enzo with the water if i see him drinking un reasonable amounts. I tell him to get out the kitchen and he just leaves.

 

[WonderPup]

that sucks, those poor doggies and the poor owners Very sad.

Mercury's Mom you need a puppy pool for the summer LoL


I did restrict water when we first got Saleen because the first week or so we were having difficulty in crate training and potty training though in hindsight not as much as we could have had. Saleen got a UTI... poor baby, no fun.

We went through a short phase where the water bowl was located outside and we had a fountain inside because Saleen was SOOO MESSY with the now unlimited water lol. It was always everywhere and gross! It actualy started to mold in one corner of the kitchen because it was always wet and I couldn't keep up cleaning wise. The fountain helped she wasn't as messy with it buuuutttt it was a decoratve type thing that my hubby came up with. Sort of a dual purpose deal pretty and functional. The cat decided that it could double as a litter box too - YUCK!! So no more fountain.

I don't restrict water anymore persay however I do limit it to an extent, I have to take the bowl away sometimes. Jazz is in the habit of drinking the entire bowl of water in one sitting as many times as you will fill it up for her. she has done it since we got her and we don't know why. It's crazy. Then of course before you know it you find a puddle on the floor. The peeing on the floor is a reccent thing, only in the last few months and there isn't anything wrong with her medically we had her checked out. It's frustrating though. I started adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to their water bowl for a completely unrelated reason and a nice side effect is that neither poodle gupls water anymore or sloshes it around or drains the whole bowl. They drink what they need when they need it like they other two dogs do. It took some getting used to for Jazz, she didnt like it at first but now she doesn't mind. They still get fresh water to play in and drink outside as well but they don't seem to be inclinded to drain that bow anymorel either so mayb they accidently learned not to do that anymore? One can hope. I wish I could put water in their kennels for when they are in there but so far that has been a disaster. Even a water bottle was a huge mess.

 

[Olie]

Good warning.

This is just me. My dogs all have a small water bowl that connects to the the side of ther crates (they make many different kinds). It cannot top over, and if its bumped hard water can spill but thats not often, and its water oh well - Now the water in the kitchen, I wish I had answer for because with 4 dogs, mainly the spoos - they leave a water trail and puddles. If I had children at risk of being hurt from the puddles, I would need to comprimise.

If dogs are trained to go to their water and owners respond I wouldn't think this is restricting water but monitoring the amounts of water, these people do not sound like they did that.....well. Also a doggie door would be ideal but I cant do that too many in and out of my garage and it just doesnt fit our situtation. I cannot allow my Poms to go 8 hours a day, the spoos maybe, but I dont have issues with the crate part.

 

[Mister]

Mister usually gulps his water and drinks so much at one time that he actually throws some of it back up a minute later SO i decided to get him a stainless steel metal pail (from the feed store, its a good couple of quarts, he nevers drinks a whole one in one day usually takes a couple days) and i also got a double clip so that it is clipped to the inside of his metal crate so he cant tip it.
NOW he doesnt gulp water anymore and has water any time he's in his crate. I would highly recommend all dogs have access to water no matter how long they are in the crate.

 

[roxy25]

I would highly recommend all dogs have access to water no matter how long they are in the crate.

Sorry this just wont happen for Enzo , I don't want him drinking while in his crate then has to pee and ends up peeing on him self.

He already pees on his cuffs and that is just nasty and not good for his coat. hwell:

When we drive to dog shows I dont even give him water while driving for the trip there nor the trip back home. He will get some if he seems to want some water. ( i know when he wants some) He will nudge our water bootles and I will pour him some.

 

[Olie]

A good dog is a trained dog. And crate training serves a great purpose when house training. As long as a dog has access to water through out the day and is healthy is water matters. Some restrictions/limitations that some may feel are not....could affect a dog later with gulping issues.

 

[debjen]

My lab has bloated twice about 6-7 weeks apart and for none of the reasons one usually associates with bloat..after his 1st and again after his 2nd bloat I did a lot of research and bascially for every article that said one thing such as using elevated bowls I could find another saying don't use elevated bowls..serve food wet don't serve food wet..so bascially I used trial and error and watched my dog to see what worked best for him..my dogs don't get water in their crates..I tried at one point and found they really didn't drink much water while in their crates..when I let them out they would head to the water bowls even tho they had it in their crate..when I am home they have free acess to water any time.

By the way Riley bloated at age 7..He will be 12 years old in a few weeks.

 

[frostfirestandards]

I dont allow water in crates either, its outside (in a big rubbermaid box )
the dogs bark if they want out, and sometimes its just to get a drink. Brian digs in the bowl if its inside and even if its in a flat back pail clipped to his crate he will throw it around and play in it. water bottles were knocked down and made a mess too, so I just use the outside water box now .
if we are at a show I offer water every so often, and then take it away.