When you are caring for a canine, it is important that you give them every single opportunity possible to feel good. This means including lots of water intake and food to help them stay happy, healthy, and full in the belly. Yet one thing that is often uncertain is the water quantities that your dog needs per day. How much water do dogs need? And how much is too much?
Dog care and ownership need you to be very particular about what, and when, you feed and hydrate your dog. It is important that you give your dog enough water. However, given the difference in breeds, sizes, and lifestyles, it can be hard to get the water quantities that you are going to be happy with.
Cleaning and filling your dog’s water bowl on a daily basis is an essential decision that you make. However, if you notice that your dog is drinking an excessive amount of water, it could be a sign that something is wrong. Keep an eye on this and take your dog to the veterinarian if you notice anything that might be a cause for concern.
How much water should your dog be drinking? Let us try and work it out.
How much water do dogs need?
The main thing that you need to look at when you are working out how much water your dog needs is its weight. Typically, one ounce of water per pound of body weight is the best starting place for an estimate. You should, though, make sure that you are looking at how much water your dog is taking in. Too little and it could become dehydrated; too much, and it could be a sign that there is an underlying problem.
So, start off by looking at giving your dog a lot of fresh water each day. Do not mess around – fill-up the bowl each day after cleaning it and keep it as full as your dog needs. If you find they drink through the whole bowl, put some more out for them. If your dog keeps drinking that, though, you might want to book in for a check-up.
Another reason you might see your dog not finish its bowl, though, comes from eating a lot of wet foods. If that is the case, your dog might not need as much water from its bowl as the food is giving it lots of water intake as well. Your dog, though, might not be drinking a lot of water because it could come down to a pain issue. It could be an internal discomfort when drinking – the only thing you can do here is to visit a vet and diagnose the issue.
It can be hard to get the balance right, so the best thing to do is take your dog to a veterinarian. They often do not put any water limits on what a dog can drink, but they can give you a rough idea of a minimum starting point based on your dog’s size, breed, diet, and lifestyle.
So, how much water do dogs need? It depends on the breed and the lifestyle of your canine. Starting with the 1oz per 1lb starting place, though, is an easy way to get things moving.