10% OFF ON PREPAID ORDERS!
How to Stop Your Dog Gulping Water: Simple Fixes That Work
Fast drinkers spill, splash and sometimes cough. Here is how to slow them down without making water time stressful.
Some dogs drink as though the bowl might disappear. Gulping can lead to splashing, coughing and a puddle on the floor, and some dogs swallow a lot of air along with the water.
Why dogs gulp
Excitement after a walk, heat, thirst and simple habit are the usual reasons. Dogs that compete with other pets for a bowl are also more likely to drink fast.
Try these fixes
- Use a floating disc bowl that lets water in slowly
- Offer water in smaller amounts after exercise, then top up
- Give each pet their own bowl in a calm spot
- Keep fresh water available so your dog never feels it must drink fast
A calmer drinking routine
Fill the bowl to about two thirds, wait for your dog to settle, and let them drink at their own pace. A floating insert, like the one in our anti-spill water bowl, naturally slows each sip and keeps splashes in the bowl.
When to call the vet
Contact your vet if gulping comes with vomiting, a swollen belly or constant, extreme thirst. Those can be signs of something other than habit.