Welcome to Yorkie Talk. I'm sorry Lucy is sick and in the hospital. Are the doctors able to determine what caused the dehydration and bloody stool? These are often symptoms something else is going on, other than a lack of moisture in food.
There is a school of thought that a kibble-only diet leaves dogs in a constant state of mild dehydration. My boys eat a primarily kibble diet, but they are good water drinkers. I praise them every time I see them take a drink, and I keep the water in the bowls fresh. Sometimes a doggy water fountain encourages drinking. Fresh water in clean bowls is essential to encourage drinking. I also found that my boys prefer glass bowls vs stainless steel, so we use little custard bowls.
Depending on what is causing Lucy to be ill, you could add some plain boiled skinless chicken breast to her kibble. This would entice her to eat and it would give her a little more moisture. The food enticements should not exceed 10 - 15% of her daily intake or you risk upsetting the balance of nutrients that dogs require to maintain health organs, like liver and kidneys.
You could also try a different kibble and play games to entice her to eat. I had to hand feed Max his entire first year.
Keep us updated on Lucy.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy  |