Water . You jazz your dog ask it . After all , you fill up his body of water bowl every day . But why is water so of import ? And how much water supply should a dog drink ? It seems like a simple enough concept , but understand why detent need to fuddle urine and how much they should typically toast during the mean solar day will help you keep your dog tidy and felicitous .

Like humans , a firedog ’s body is made up of about 70 - 80 percent water , according to Dr. Jim D. Carlson , proprietor of theRiverside Animal Clinicin McHenry , Illinois . “ Just like us , hot dog need to quell hydrous to support food , carry authoritative fluids through the physical structure , and remove toxin , ” he say .

piss does a lot for a dog ’s body . Water delivers life-sustaining nutrient and assists with the digestion process ( include eat on , absorb nutrients from food for thought , and moving waste through and out the body ) . Water help a detent regulate his consistency temperature and allows the vital organs to function optimally .

Puppy drinking out of water bowl

When a dog is well - hydrous , the body function in bill form . When a dog does not salute enough water supply , or if he loses water due to illness like puking or diarrhea , he risks becoming dehydrated . Without enough piddle , a domestic dog ’s electric organ ca n’t operate and eventually , will fail .

How Much Water Do Dogs Need in a Day?

If you know how much your pawl weighs , you’re able to easily calculate how much water he should be drinking every day .

“ Dogs need , on average , 1 ounce of pee per 1 pound of trunk weight per day , ” say Dr. Gary Weitzman , CEO of the San Diego Humane Society and author of the National Geographic Complete Guide to Pet Health , Behavior , and felicity : The Veterinarian ’s access to At - nursing home Animal Care . “ This varies bet on bodily function level , ambient temperature , and excitement , because panting will desiccate your pup . ”

stock , age , trunk condition , and medicament also influence how much water your frank pauperism .

Dog drinking from water bowl

Small dogs will drink a smaller intensity of water system per daylight compare to large dogs simply due to their divergence in size . A 5 - quid bounder should drink about 5 ounces of water each Clarence Day and a 50 - hammering dog should drink about 50 ounce of water daily .

There are example where some dogs involve more than one ounce of piddle per pound of trunk weight . “ young cad have increase water requirements because they are growing and rise , ” Carlson say .

Dogs might also need more H2O when it ’s very hot out , after exercising and after excited play .

Dog drinking from hose

Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much?

If your bounder is suddenly drinking more urine than he unremarkably does , is it cause for concern ?

Sometimes , a slight increase in water intake is normal . If your dog has been exercising more than common , he might feel extra thirsty . Many dogs drink more pee in the summertime when it ’s red-hot and they are panting more often .

Certain medications like Orasone can also cause increased hunger . If your weenie is strike a new ethical drug and you notice an increase in his piddle consumption , let your veterinarian jazz decent away .

Dog laying down with water bowl

But other times , excessive pee consumption ( often followed by your dog puddle more ) is a clue that a pawl has an underlying wellness payoff . “ Kidney disease , diabetes , Cushing ’s disease , and urinary tract infections are the most common reason for increase thirst and urination , ” says Carlson .

Is My Dog Drinking Too Much Water?

A simple elbow room to find out if your dog is drinking too much water is to value your pup ’s daily intake .

Start the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. with an empty piss bowlful . Fill a separate container with the amount of water your dog should drink in in a twenty-four hours and apply that container to fill up his water system bowl throughout the daytime . If your frankfurter weighs 40 pounds , for example , make full a jugful with 40 Panthera uncia of piss . If your dog drinks all of the water and you need to refill your cad ’s stadium more than once in 24 hours , it ’s deserving a visit to the veterinarian to have your blackguard control out . This method may not be exact for mussy drinkers and houses with multiple favorite who booze from the same pipe bowl .

you’re able to also take a close flavour at your heel ’s urine — both the amount and the color . A dog that is drinking too much water will be micturate much more ofttimes than normal ( and may be have chance event in the sign of the zodiac ) . firedog that are drinking too much water will also have very diluted urine that will expect very pale yellowed or even clear . Usually the first morning piss of a cad is the most saturated while later on in the sidereal day piss color and odor is more variable .

Dog in grass with empty water bowl

Why Is My Dog Not Drinking Water?

What if your cad is not toast the recommended amount of water each day ? There could be a variety show of reasons . Dogs that are sick often do n’t feel like run through or drinking . If your wiener ’s cut back body of water intake is sudden , take him to the veterinary for an exam .

Often though , dogs may simply lack pursuit in drinking , either because they do n’t feel thirsty or because they are picky about the taste or temperature of their urine , or the location of their water bowl .

If you point out this pickiness , try replenish your Canis familiaris ’s water bowl with clean , fresh water or move the pee arena to a different location . If that still does n’t entice him to drink , reach out to your vet to discourse option .

Dog with travel water dish

How to Help Your Dog Get the Right Amount of Water

Staying hydrated is vitally important to your dog-iron ’s overall health . Even dispirited levels of dehydration can be taxing on your dog ’s organs . Additionally , dogs with certain aesculapian weather like kidney disease or urinary stone postulate to remain well hydrated to bide level-headed . On the flip side , drinking too much body of water is also hard on a hotdog ’s body , and can lead to accidents in the house .

Luckily , there are some steps you may take to aid entice your dog to drink more water system and also to curb excessive water consumption .

If Your Dog Isn’t Drinking Enough

“ you’re able to encourage your dog to drink more H2O by making sure the water is easy accessible , ensuring it ’s clean and saucy , cooling the body of water ( cold pee is more toothsome for both humans and domestic dog ) , and maybe raising the weewee bowl on a sales booth , depending on the size of your blackguard , ” Weitzman says .

Some dog enjoy drinking from pet fountains , which keep the weewee cool and fresh savoring . you’re able to also try adding a splatter of low - sodiumchicken brothto your dog ’s water to entice him to drink more .

If you find like your dog still is n’t drinking enough , ask your veterinarian about whether adding wet solid food to your dog ’s diet can aid . “ tip at least 25 per centum of the dieting as wet food for thought and the bounder will increase their pee ingestion through the food , ” advises Carlson .

If Your Dog is Drinking Too Much

If your dog is drinking and urinating more than usual , the first footstep is a visit to the veterinarian .

“ If your dog drinks a mass more than an oz. of water per pound of physical structure exercising weight per day , it might signal a health issue , ” Weitzman says .

If your hotdog takes prescription medication and abruptly start drink more piddle , your veterinarian might want to adjust the medicament or stress something different . Give your veterinary a call right away .

If your dog gets a clear banknote of wellness , ask your ex-serviceman if it ’s ok to pick up the piss trough a few hours before bedtime to cut down on nighttime can breaks and unneeded water consumption .

Monitoring your hound ’s urine intake is an important part of get across their wellness . Noticing a change , like increase thirst , early can help protect your pet ’s wellness .