my dog cant drink water!

[jonathankg]

Hello everyone, I really need urgent advice with my 8-year-old English Bulldog.
For some time now he has been showing a very strange behavior with water:
He stands at the water bowl for 15–20 minutes trying to drink, but the water level does not go down.
It looks like he fills his mouth with bubbles or phlegm and cannot swallow.
This happens every 40 minutes: he goes to the bowl, tries to drink without success, comes back tired, sleeps, and then repeats the cycle.

Medical background:
I have already taken him to two different vets, but there has been no improvement and they honestly don’t know what’s happening.
He has diagnosed kidney disease.
He was prescribed Enrofloxacin (due to an enlarged prostate).
Also Finasteride (for the prostate).
They also tried Cerenia (in case it was nausea that wouldnt allow him to drink), but it did nothing.
I was told to hydrate him with a syringe, but he still desperately goes to the water bowl and cannot hydrate himself properly.
He urinates with the same frequency (a lot), but in smaller amounts.
His appetite is still good.
I feed him Hills kd

My questions:
Has anyone ever seen a similar case where a dog wants to drink but cannot swallow or hydrate?
Could this be related to the throat, swallowing, neurological issues, esophagus, kidneys, or prostate?
What diagnosis or treatment worked in similar cases?
I’m very worried because with his kidney condition, hydration is critical.
Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated

.
Thank you in advance!

 

[2BullyMama]

I have never experienced this… @oscarmayer @Manydogs

 

[berlin78]

Not to jump to conclusions, but the only thing this makes me think of is rabies. Sure there would be other signs with that, though. Very strange. I always say check the heart - Sophie's tumor was unknown to us and she had a hard time doing basic things all of a sudden because it was pushing on the muscle. Just a thought. Hope all is okay!

 

[Lennie. U.K.]

Hi, just seen this post, that is why I registered. In the 70s I had an English Bull Terrier, he showed the same characteristics. Took him to the Vet, nothing could be found. One day I saw him staring at the chrome coffee table in the same way as he looked at the water bowl. It turned out that it was the stainless steel bowl causing a reflection of the water. Changed the bowl to a plastic, when he came in the room, he drank as if nothing was wrong. having said all this, Bodger was only three, (RIP mate) at eleven, this could also be the on set of Dementia, I really hope not, and hope this is an easy fix, for you and your family . Good Luck.

 

[helsonwheels]

Hi, just seen this post, that is why I registered. In the 70s I had an English Bull Terrier, he showed the same characteristics. Took him to the Vet, nothing could be found. One day I saw him staring at the chrome coffee table in the same way as he looked at the water bowl. It turned out that it was the stainless steel bowl causing a reflection of the water. Changed the bowl to a plastic, when he came in the room, he drank as if nothing was wrong. having said all this, Bodger was only three, (RIP mate) at eleven, this could also be the on set of Dementia, I really hope not, and hope this is an easy fix, for you and your family . Good Luck.

Interesting

 

[oscarmayer]

I wish I had an answer, but I've never experienced this. I would seek the help of a canine internist.