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Many dog owners worry that their dog is drinking too much or not enough water throughout the day. Here are the guidelines for how much water your dog should be consuming!
Dogs can survive days without food before becoming sick or causing major problems. But losing just 10% of his body’s water can cause vital organs in your dog’s body to shut down. Just a 15% loss can be fatal. Water is important for digesting food, flushing out toxins, controlling body temperature and so much more. That’s why knowing how much water your dog should have is so important.
The amount of water your dog should consume in a day varies depending on the size of your dog, his activity level, his age, health and stress level. Naturally, a dog playing hard outside on a hot, sunny day is going to drink more than your couch potato napping most of the day. The general rule of thumb is for your dog to drink 1 cup of water per 5 pounds of body weight.
It’s important to monitor your dog’s drinking habits as lack of thirst or increased thirst can be signs of illness, some of them serious. Increased thirst can be a sign of diabetes, coupled with many other signs. Don’t panic if your dog goes through a few bowls of water in one day – he may have had something with more sodium than normal or is making up for water he didn’t take in the day before. If this becomes a regular habit, however, consult your vet.
Keeping a clean water bowl is also very important for your dog as bacteria can easily grow inside. Each time you go to fill up your dog’s bowl, rinse it out thoroughly and wipe it with a sponge or cloth. You should also clean and disinfect your dog’s bowl at least once per week to really keep it clean!
If you find your dog seems uninterested in his water, try filling his bowl with cool water as they like this better. You can even try bottled or filtered water as well to ensure he’s getting the best of the best!
Dogs love fresh, cool water just as much as we do and it’s just as important!
Tags: dehydration in dogs, dog health, how much water should your dog have
