not drinking when wearing muzzle

[my bfg]

Hi, my girl has lami and I am trying to keep her out as much as poss as she also has arthritis so like to keep her moving. I've been popping her new muzzle on her whenever I'm up the yard so she can get used to it. She's worked out how to graze with it on (after I spent a few mins poking grass through the hole) but she won't drink, have tried taking a bucket up to her which she will put her nose in but then take it straight out an shake her head, but if I take the muzzle off she will happily have a drink. Obviously due to this i don't feel able to leave her unattended with the muzzle on yet.
Does anyone have any further tips on how to help her learn this? Thank you in advance x

 

[Shysmum]

I think that once she learns to accept the muzzle, she will start to drink. Try not to worry about it, unless she comes in dehydrated - if she needs water, she will work it out.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hi, my girl has lami and I am trying to keep her out as much as poss as she also has arthritis so like to keep her moving. I've been popping her new muzzle on her whenever I'm up the yard so she can get used to it. She's worked out how to graze with it on (after I spent a few mins poking grass through the hole) but she won't drink, have tried taking a bucket up to her which she will put her nose in but then take it straight out an shake her head, but if I take the muzzle off she will happily have a drink. Obviously due to this i don't feel able to leave her unattended with the muzzle on yet.
Does anyone have any further tips on how to help her learn this? Thank you in advance x

Has she got a bucket or trough???

I suggest a plasters bath so she does not have the muzzle rubbing down the sides of the bucket which may put her off.

 

[my bfg]

Thanks both, just be very reassuring to see her drink just once before I take off an leave her to it.
She's got a trough by the gate but has big trugs if she's in a sectioned off bit as I divide the field up after winter x

 

[putasocinit]

She is probably still trying to gauge how far to put her nose in before feeling the water, seeing that her whiskers are now covered by a muzzle, she would get used to it, but yes it is worrying.