If your dog has kennel cough and suddenly stops drinking water, it can be very concerning.
Kennel cough usually causes coughing, throat irritation, and fatigue, but a loss of thirst is a sign that your dog may be feeling worse than expected.
We outline the common reasons why a dog may not drink water when they have kennel cough, what you can do, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog with Kennel Cough Not Drinking Water
A dog not drinking water with kennel cough may be experiencing throat pain, nasal congestion, fever, fatigue, nausea, or complications that make drinking uncomfortable.
When a dog who normally hydrates well begins avoiding water, it’s usually a signal that the illness is affecting more than just the airway.
Dog with Kennel Cough Not Drinking Water: Reasons Why
Throat Pain and Irritation
Kennel cough inflames the throat and upper airway, causing a harsh, dry cough that can feel painful or scratchy. When the throat becomes irritated, swallowing water can trigger coughing fits.
Dogs quickly learn that drinking leads to discomfort, so they start avoiding the water bowl altogether.
The more they cough, the more irritated the lining becomes, creating a cycle where swallowing becomes increasingly uncomfortable.
Dogs with severe throat irritation may approach the bowl, sniff it, then walk away without drinking. They may lick their lips repeatedly or swallow hard as if the throat feels sore. Over time, avoidance can lead to dehydration, which further worsens throat inflammation.
Read more: My Dog Has Kennel Cough and Not Eating (What it means)
Nasal Congestion Making Drinking Difficult
Kennel cough often causes nasal discharge and congestion. Dogs rely heavily on their ability to breathe through their nose while eating and drinking.
When the nasal passages are clogged, drinking becomes awkward and uncomfortable. A congested dog may pause frequently, stop drinking early, or refuse water entirely because the pressure of swallowing while breathing through the mouth feels overwhelming.
Congestion also affects smell, and since dogs depend on scent to understand and accept food or water, water may seem less appealing if their sense of smell is dulled.
This loss of scent cues makes drinking feel unfamiliar or uninteresting, which contributes to reduced hydration.
Fever or General Illness Reducing Thirst
Some dogs with kennel cough develop a fever, especially when the infection is bacterial or when complications such as pneumonia begin to form.
Fever reduces a dog’s appetite and thirst instinct, making water intake naturally decline even when hydration is badly needed.
A feverish dog may appear lethargic, warm to the touch, or unusually quiet. Illness shifts metabolism and energy use, causing the body to conserve resources.
This internal shift often leads to a temporary decline in thirst, which can worsen quickly if dehydration develops in combination with coughing and nasal drainage.
Nausea or Upset Stomach
Kennel cough can sometimes trigger nausea due to excessive mucus drainage or frequent swallowing of mucus.
When the stomach becomes irritated, a dog may avoid drinking because liquid intake increases nausea or triggers mild vomiting.
Some dogs will lick water without fully drinking or pace near the bowl as if unsure. Others may drink only a small amount before turning away. Nausea-driven thirst decline can be subtle but becomes more evident when paired with coughing fits after drinking.
Pain from Secondary Infection
If kennel cough progresses into a more serious infection like bronchitis or pneumonia, the discomfort increases significantly.
Dogs may feel chest pressure, deep aches, or fatigue that discourages movement toward the water bowl. Pain can make the act of bending the neck or lowering the head difficult.
A dog experiencing secondary infection often shows reduced thirst because the body is under strain. Breathing may become more labored, and dogs naturally avoid drinking if it feels like it disrupts breathing rhythm or triggers coughing attacks.
Dehydration Worsening the Symptoms
Ironically, the less a dog drinks, the worse the kennel cough symptoms become. Dehydration thickens mucus, increases throat dryness, and intensifies irritation.
The dog then associates drinking with more discomfort and avoids water even further.
As dehydration worsens, dogs may produce thicker saliva, experience harder swallowing, show dry gums, or lick their lips constantly.
This cycle creates a situation where kennel cough becomes harder for the body to fight, and recovery slows dramatically.
Anxiety
Dogs recovering from kennel cough are often stressed — especially if they recently returned from boarding, grooming facilities, or shelters.
Stress diminishes appetite and thirst as the nervous system shifts away from normal digestive functions.
A stressed dog may spend more time resting, hiding, or isolating, ignoring both food and water. If kennel cough developed in a new environment or after a stressful event, dehydration often follows simply because the dog’s routine and behavior patterns are disrupted.
Read more: Dog Constantly Coughing (Here’s why)
What to Do
Begin by encouraging gentle hydration in ways that don’t irritate the throat. Offer lukewarm water, as cold water can trigger coughing in sensitive dogs. You can also try providing low-sodium broth, bone broth, or water flavored with a small amount of tuna juice or chicken drippings to make drinking more appealing.
Keep the water bowl close to where your dog is resting to minimize the effort required to drink. If your dog panics or coughs when bending down, try using a raised bowl to reduce neck strain.
Some dogs drink better when offered water from your cupped hand or a syringe held gently to the side of the mouth, though this should never be forced.
Humidifying the air can also soothe the throat and nasal passages. Run a humidifier near your dog’s resting area or allow them to sit in a steamy bathroom while you run a hot shower. This moisture helps loosen mucus and makes swallowing easier.
Softening food with warm water or broth not only encourages eating but also contributes to hydration. Many dogs drink less but will happily eat softened kibble, canned food, or a bland diet.
If your dog will not drink plain water but will consume wet food, this may be enough to maintain mild hydration while the illness improves.
Monitor your dog closely for changes in energy, breathing, coughing frequency, nasal discharge, or swallowing difficulty. If refusal to drink continues for more than a day, veterinary care becomes essential.
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
Contact your veterinarian right away if your dog:
• Refuses to drink water for 24 hours or more.
• Coughs violently after every attempt to drink.
• Shows thick yellow, green, or bloody nasal discharge.
• Has a fever, lethargy, or rapid breathing.
• Pants heavily even while resting.
• Shows signs of dehydration (dry gums, sunken eyes, sticky saliva).
• Has not improved within a few days of kennel cough symptoms starting.
• Shows any signs of pneumonia such as wet coughing, weakness, or poor appetite.
• Struggles to swallow or appears to choke while drinking.
Kennel cough is usually mild, but dehydration and secondary infections can turn it into a medical emergency.
Read more: Dog Sneezing and Snorting (Common nasal irritation causes)
Key Takeaway
A dog not drinking water with kennel cough is often dealing with throat pain, congestion, fever, or complications that make drinking uncomfortable.
While kennel cough alone is usually mild, dehydration quickly makes symptoms worse and slows recovery. Encouraging gentle hydration, soothing the airway, and monitoring your dog closely are essential.
If water refusal persists or your dog shows worsening symptoms, veterinary care is necessary to prevent complications and support healing.