How Much Water Should Puppies Drink?

Water is essential that helps in healthy body functioning. It regulates the body temperature and keeps the cells, organs, tissues healthy and active. However, water is lost from the body via sweating and digestion, causing dehydration, leading to multiple problems such as rough skin, low energy, mood swings, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Keep reading below for more!  

How Much Water Does a Dog Drink a Day?

Dogs are active creatures. Their playful, explorative nature keeps them indulge in various activities, due to which they dehydrate quickly.

This calls to a question, how much water does a dog drink per day? Well, the answer depends on various factors such as temperature, humidity, level of activity, age, and size of a dog.

Growing puppies tend to consume more water than older dogs, as they are more into sporty activities.

Below is the table portraying the amount of water a dog should consume in a day.

For instance, if a dog weighs 50 pounds, he must drink 6.25 cups of water per day. If your dog is hyperactive, he may end up drinking more water; however, too much water intake nods to a health problem.

Note: Keep a check on your dog’s level of activity and fluid consumption to ensure his proper hydration.

Signs of Dehydration in Dogs

Being a responsible dog parent, it is necessary to look after them and their basic needs. Dogs cannot notify us about their thirst or hunger, but they depict some signs that signal dehydration. These signs help a puppy parent to take prompt action.

Dehydration in puppies is caused by constant vomiting, fever, heatstroke, or inadequate water consumption, which often lead to life and death diseases such as kidney stones or diabetes.

Here is a list of warning signs of dehydration in dogs;

• Feeling sluggish or low spirit
• Anorexia/loss of appetite
• Xerostomia/dry mouth
• Dry nose
• Sunken eyes
• Thick saliva
• Panting/fast breathing
• Slow heart pulse
• Dry skin/loss of skin elasticity
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Collapse and shock

REMEMBER: Make sure you give them small sips of water to rehydrate because drinking a lot of water at once can lead to vomiting. Consult a vet if the dog doesn’t show any improvement.

Why Is My Dog Not Drinking The Water?

If you’re wondering why my dog isn’t drinking water, well, the reasons can be many, ranging from mood to health problems, aging, or others.

Let’s explore few reasons why and when the dog don’t drink water; 

• Water is not Fresh.

Remember, we discussed earlier how fresh and clean water can encourage water consumption. Yes! Similarly, when dogs are not offered fresh drinking water, they stave off.

• Unfamiliar Places

Dogs avoid drinking water from unfamiliar or new places as they feel insecure. Whether you’re visiting a park, seaside, or friend’s house, it is recommended to carry a water bottle along with you for his time rehydration.         

How to Make Dogs Fond of Drinking Water

If you notice your puppy isn’t drinking an adequate amount of water or is aversing from water bowls, try out some fine strategies that will make him fall in love with water. 

• Use Fancy Bowls

Offer the water in fancy, colorful bowls that would catch your dog’s attention and encourage them to drink it.

• Put Water Bowls Around the House

Place the water bowls everywhere, near the food bowl, in every room, bed, and in the backyard. This will buck up their water consumption habit.

• Fill the Bowl with Fresh Water

Just like humans, dogs avoid drinking dirty and unhygienic water. Make sure you’re supplying clean and fresh drinking water in a spotless water bowl to your canine friend.

• Add Ice in the Bowl

Try adding ice cubes to the water bowl, which offers a two-way benefit - dogs love to chew ice cubes and find them joyful, plus they work as a fun element to hydrate them. 

• Reward them

Reward them with their favorite food or toy once they are done with drinking water. This will stimulate positive drinking behavior.

WARNING: Don’t Offer Tea, Coffee, or Beverages to Your Dog!

Offering them flavored fluids is indeed a good option to stimulate their drinking needs; likewise, offering them tea, coffee, and beverages seems safe. But this isn’t the case.

Tea and coffee aren’t as harmless as they sound. It contains caffeine that can cause poisoning to the dog and ofttimes lead to serious health conditions such as agitation, hyperactivity, irregular heartbeat, vomiting, panting, seizures, and more.

It is highly recommended not to offer tea, coffee, fizzy, or energy drinks to your dog to ensure his good health.

Keep Pups in Hydration

Water is the best option to hydrate your puppy. No other substitute is preferable. It helps the dog to maintain a smooth and shiny coat along with a healthier lifestyle. It is a solution to many problems.

Get a beautiful bowl and train your puppy to consume the right amount of water at the right time.