General information on ME dogs and water:
Some ME dogs can handle water but must be upright during or immediately after drinking for a few minutes. For ME dogs that can’t handle water, there are other options such as :
–     Thick It
–     Thick N Easy or ThickenUp (all water thickeners that can be purchased at most drugstores – just ask the pharmacist)
–     Knox block (unflavored Gelatin made with low sodium chicken broth)
–     Mix water in with food
–     Thick It in water mixed with chicken broth (Herb-ox no-sodium chicken broth powder) to make it more appealing
–     Subcutaneous fluids
–     Can try adding a little chicken broth (use low or no sodium) to the water
–     Syringe small amounts of fluids into her cheek pouch (needs veterinarian discussion and how to safely do this
–     Chicken broth “pupsicles”
–     Ice chips (e.g. a  snow cone maker works great)

How to determine how much water your dog needs:
First, figure out about how much water your dog needs by using this calculator:
http://www.mycockerspaniel.com/h2o.htm

Then figure out how much is blended with his food, (as well as the amount already in canned food). Many dogs get enough with the blended food.

A few more hydration suggestions (from 1 ME dog owner):
“xxxxxxx’s neurologist suggested using aloe vera juice to make her chicken broth….good for the digestive tract. so I substitute one cup of water with one cup of aloe juice. On one occasion, my husband accidentally bought fruit flavored aloe by mistake….I was sure she would not touch it but she actually loved it. Perhaps it seemed more like a treat for her. Even fruit flavored aloe with chicken broth mixed in she enjoyed. With xxxxxxx, the trick is to give the broth in small pieces following the food as she is sitting….a few cubes right after eating….then a few more in 10 minutes. If I give them all at once, they come back up.

Also,  I keep fluids and needles at home and give sub-q fluids myself when xxxxxx seems dehydrated. It’s cheaper to do it at home than to take her in to the vet and she actually doesn’t mind it at all. It takes 15 minutes or so and has the added advantage that if she is on any meds (like her antibiotics or Cerenia) I can administer them via the fluids rather than stick her again.”

Concerns:
–     Dehydration if you don’t get your dog water
–     Not allowing water to safely move through the esophagus – must be highly elevated or upright while giving and afterwards as well
–     Pushing water too fast if using a syringe and pushing directly down the throat and not carefully inside cheek a little at a time
–     Causing your dog to aspirate if being allowed to gulp or have too much water at one time