Am I Giving My Dog Enough Water?

Water is essential to all life. If your dog doesn’t get enough water, that can be a problem. Similarly, if your dog is drinking too little water, it can also be a problem. So, what is the ideal amount?

Let’s find out.

What is the ideal amount of water?

We can’t give you a precise number since the ideal amount will vary depending on your dog’s breed, age, and size. Most vets recommend one milliliter of water for every recommended calorie your dog intakes. Therefore, if your dog requires 250 kilocalories a day, the ideal amount of water would be around 250 milliliters per day.

Other factors which determine whether this amount will increase includes exercises, external temperatures, and life stage ( whether adulthood, or say lactating)

Your dog may also feel extra thirsty due to certain diseases or medical conditions which affect sugar levels or urination such as diabetes, external steroids or excess secretion of cortisol, and chronic kidney disease.

It may also be a result of switching your dog’s food. For instance, changing from a canned diet to a dried diet is a change from 75% water to 8-12% water. Weather can also result in additional thirst.

If you notice your dog’s drinking and/or urination habits have changed significantly, meaning your dog refuses to drink water, is constantly smacking his/her lips, or has short urine streams, contact your vet right away. This may be a sign of something more serious, and it’s always better to be safe than to be sorry.