July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month.
How much water your dog needs will depend on their size, what they eat, and their activity level. And, the amount needed will likely increase in hotter weather. It is recommended that dogs need about 1 ounce (or 1/8th of a cup) per pound of body weight or 40 to 60 ml per kilo, every day. I get frustrated with conversion tables, so if you do as well there are 2 great resources to check out.
Purina has a page where you can see the amount per half a litre bottle (a typical soda bottle) for the different sizes of dogs from toy size to large dogs. The range is huge, from 125 ml to 3000 ml (3 litres)!
I think it's an easy visual to understand and much more accessible than trying to convert different measurements, but go to town if you enjoy conversion tables. Everyone has their thing!
Speaking of conversion tables, another great tool is the Omni Calculator which is a very unique tool that has a wide variety of calculators for everything from the Carpooling Calculator, Leap Year Calculator, Oil to Butter Converter, and a Dog Water Intake Calculator
You choose the activity level and enter their weight in pounds or kilograms and choose from millilitres, litres, or ounces.
Of course, it is best to provide a big fresh bowl of clean water and let your dog drink as needed. However, I think the guidelines and tools available are a good starting point to know if you are giving your dog enough water or if they are drinking enough (or too much). This can help you prevent serious health issues from dehydration or spot a problem if your dog has a disease or condition that may cause them to change their drinking habits.
I know some people limit their dog's water to try to prevent accidents or because they may knock the bowl over and make a mess. If that is the case for you and your dog, I highly recommend using the Purina tool or Omni Calculator to ensure your dog is drinking enough water each day. Dehydration can cause serious issues as proper hydration is necessary for the body to function properly. Kidney failure is a risk if your dog is severely dehydrated.
Signs of dehydration:
dry sticky gums
dry nose
sunken eyes
lethargy
loss of appetite
dry skin
excessive panting
thick saliva
dark urine
constipation
vomiting
A quick test we learned in Pet First Aid is to check the skin elasticity on the back or shoulder blade area. The sign of good hydration is that the skin will quickly bounce back into place but if they are dehydrated the skin will take longer to go back to the original position. The more severe the dehydration the longer it will take. You may have seen your Vet do this to your pet at their check up.
Cats too!
The recommendation for cats is 60 ml/kg per day or 1 to 1.5 cups. Again this will vary by size, activity level, and diet and will likely increase in hot weather.
There is a calculator for this too!
Tips for getting your pet to drink enough water
Ensure the water bowl is clean and provide fresh water daily. If you see pink stuff build up sanitize the bowl and/or give them a new bowl.
Try a larger or wider bowl or even a few different sizes to see what they prefer.
Put an extra water dish (or more) in a different spot to give them more options.
Try adding a fountain or use the tap. You could even try a kiddie pool outside for your dog to play in.
Add wet food to their diet such as canned food or try adding some water or broth to their kibble.
The Home Office Gang ‘Case Studies’
Ziggy had very severe urinary crystals when I got him and we had to change his diet. It took a while to sort out but eventually I started adding some water to his wet food and kibble. Since he loves eating he will lap it all up. That way I know he is getting water and that’s important so he does not develop the crystals again. The trick though is not to add too much, he will reject it if it’s more than half an inch. So I learned his limit and we have a good system in place now.
After Moxie’s illness last year he started drinking so much water and peeing way more than usual. I took him in for a check up and it turned out he had developed diabetes. That’s why it can be so important to monitor your pets and know what their normal is. Now he has 2 favourite bowls, one in each room and we monitor the amount he drinks and pees to keep an eye on his health.
Bean has her own special water dish by the bathroom sink. This is her favourite and I have never seen her use any of the other 4 bowls. She also will lick the sink. She will only eat a bit of wet food but I make sure she likes it and give her Churu or the Catit tube as a treat with it.
What do you do to encourage your pet to drink? Or do they just love water? Let us know in the comments.
Beloved Furryornot Gang member Murphy apparently just gobbles it up and spent several minutes with his face in a bowl the other day.
Stay hydrated!
Further reading:
Read our blog post 'Yucky Water Dishes and Why You Should Clean Them'
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