Like every living being, your dog needs water every day. If your dog doesn’t get enough to drink, its body suffers dehydration and eventually stops functioning. It’s up to you to make sure your dog gets enough water to stay healthy, but you might not know how much water that is. How can you tell if your dog isn’t getting enough water? What should you do if you think your dog is drinking too much? How do health issues influence how much your dog drinks? Read on to find out.
How Much Water Should a Dog Drink a Day?
Veterinarians recommend that a dog get an ounce of water per pound of its weight daily. So, if your dog weighs 50 pounds, it should get 50 ounces of water every day. However, there are special circumstances that impact how much water your dog needs.
Things to Consider When it Comes to Your Dog’s Water Intake
As with humans, your pup’s age, the state of their health, how active they are, and their weight all help determine how much water your dog drinks or wants to drink.
The Age of Your Dog
Older dogs tend to drink less water than younger dogs or puppies. It may be too much work for them to go to their water bowl in the next room. They’re not as active as younger dogs and may simply not want to eat or drink as much. Nevertheless, you should still make sure that your older dog gets enough water each day.
Pre-existing Medical Conditions
Pre-existing medical conditions also affect how much water your dog drinks. A dog suffering from a urinary tract infection may drink less water, while dogs with kidney disease may drink more. Dogs taking medication for an illness might also drink more water than usual. And pregnant or nursing dogs also need to drink more water.
Your Dog’s Weight
Overweight dogs may head to their water bowl after just a little exercise. If your pooch is overweight, you might want to visit with your vet to learn how to help them lose a few of those extra pounds.
Activity Level
Unsurprisingly, active dogs drink more water than inactive dogs. And, of course, they’ll drink even more water when it’s hot.
How to Know if Your Dog Needs More Water
There’s a quick and easy trick to learn if your dog is getting enough water: gently pinch the skin between its shoulders, pull it up, release it, then see if the skin snaps back into place. If it stays upright for a time before it smooths out, your dog needs more water.
How to Get a Dog to Drink More Water
You can get your dog to drink more water by adding ice cubes or flavoring to their water bowl. You can also increase hydration by adding some water to your dog’s food at mealtimes.
Common Dog Water and Hydration FAQs
Why is My Dog Drinking So Much Water?
Your dog may be drinking a lot of water because of the reasons discussed above. A dry food diet may also make a dog drink more water.
What Are the Best Dog Bowls for My Dog?
A dog’s bowl should be the right size for it and be bacteria and mold-resistant. According to vets, the best material for a bowl is stainless steel.
Should Dog Bowls Be Elevated?
You may have seen advertisements claiming that elevating food and water bowls lowers the risk of a potentially fatal condition called bloat. There’s no decisive evidence that elevated bowls lower the risk of bloat. In fact, some studies suggest that elevated dog bowls may actually increase the risk, particularly in larger breeds. This is because the raised position may encourage dogs to eat and drink faster, which can lead to air swallowing and gastric distension (bloat). However, other studies have found that elevated dog bowls may actually reduce the risk of bloat by slowing down the eating process due to the raised position forcing dogs to take smaller bites and chew their food more thoroughly. Because of these conflicting studies, the safest practice, especially for at-risk breeds, is to provide both food and water from bowls placed on the floor unless a veterinarian specifically recommends an elevated bowl for a different health reason, such as arthritis.
How to Clean Dog Bowls
Both food and water bowls should be cleaned daily with hot, soapy water. In other words, they should be washed like human dishware.
Conclusion
Clean, fresh water is a must for your dog! Water keeps your dog’s eyes bright, their fur glossy, and their body in good working order. Accordingly, ensure that your pup gets the amount of water they need each day based upon the guidelines above and your own vet’s specific recommendations.
