How Much Water Should a Dog Drink?
A balanced diet isn’t the only factor to consider when it comes to keeping your dog healthy. Water is also essential for your pet’s health since it is the primary component of healthy, living cells. Your pet’s body will be unable to operate correctly without it, and they may even get dehydrated.
Why Water Is Important for Dogs
Water aids digestion and nutrition absorption in dogs by transporting vital nutrients into and out of the body’s cells. It also helps to regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, promote cognitive function, and protect the brain and spinal cord. Water is necessary for every vital biological function.
Lack of water can have a major impact on humans as well as pets. The way lack of water makes you drowsy, dizzy, and uncoordinated, it does the same for your dog. Dehydration is defined as a loss of water that exceeds the amount consumed by the body. Dehydration causes muscular dysfunction and electrolyte imbalance because the body takes water out of the cells. If dehydration is not treated quickly, organ failure and death might occur.
How Much Water Should a Dog Drink?
Generally, adult dogs require approximately 65-70 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day. But puppies that are growing, despite their smaller size, drink more than their adult counterparts. A lot will always depend on the size, age and activity level of your puppy.
Very young puppies meet the hydration requirements from their mother’s milk. As they are being weaned and start to eat solid food, they will need a fresh supply of water. Generally, young puppies require about a half cup of water every two hours. You’ll want to monitor your pup to make sure he’s drinking enough but not too much water.
Symptoms of Dehydration in Dogs
- Moving slower than usual
- Fatigue
- Appetite loss
- Sunken eyes
- Panting
- Dry gums and a dry nose
A Quick Tip for Checking If Your Dog Is Dehydrated
Pets’ skin loses elasticity when they don’t drink enough water. Make a delicate skin squeeze across the loose skin between your pet’s shoulder blades to see whether this is the case. If the skin bounces back fast and easily, there is probably adequate water in the system. However, if your pet’s skin returns to its usual state slowly or remains tented for more than a few seconds, your pet may be dehydrated.
How Common Is Dehydration in Dogs?
Dehydration may not appear to be a common occurrence, but it is. Water is lost by pets for a variety of reasons, including excretion, panting, and even breathing. They eat and drink to replenish this water supply.
If your pet isn’t eating and drinking enough, he or she may get dehydrated. Dehydration can cause a loss of appetite, creating a vicious cycle. Dehydration is common in pets that exercise vigorously or are exposed to hot, humid conditions. Heat stress, heat stroke, and dehydration are frequently associated.
How to Ensure That Your Pet Gets Enough Water
It’s crucial to keep an eye on your pet’s water consumption all year, but especially during the warmest months. Here are a few suggestions:
- Every day, provide fresh, clean, clear drinking water.
- Place multiple water bowls throughout the house especially in places your dog hangs out most in
- Ensure the water bowls are clean
- Put your dog on fresh food diets as they contain more food
- Flavour your dog’s water with chicken or vegetable broth to make it more exciting for the dog
- Teach your dog to drink from a water bottle and bring foldable water bowls with you on trips
You can keep your dogs properly hydrated with a little extra care and preparation. Simple routines can assist us in ensuring that water is a consistent component of our pet’s daily routine. Consider your pet’s water needs every time you grab your water bottle.
