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How Much Water Should a Dog Drink Per Day

Max. D Gray
By Max. D Gray. Updated: January 16, 2017
How Much Water Should a Dog Drink Per Day
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Everyone knows that humans should drink about two litres of water a day, but what about our pets? Just like with us, fluid intake is much more important than the amount of food we give our dogs, as it is useless to carefully ration their food if they are dehydrated. To prevent this from happening, in this OneHowTo article we explain how much water a dog should drink per day.

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Steps to follow:
1

Especially in hot weather, it is essential to control the quantity of water our dog drinks, because a lack of hydration could trigger heatstroke. Another consequence of poor hydration in dogs is constipation, because by not drinking all the water their bodies need, their stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass. Also, dogs can develop a bad breath if they are not well hydrated.

2

The daily quantity of water to give them varies, especially depending on the type of food you're giving them and the weight of the dog. So a dog that mostly eats dry food will require more fluids than one that eats wet food. However, veterinarians always recommend giving the dog dry food because wet dog food contains a much higher fat content.

How Much Water Should a Dog Drink Per Day - Step 2
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3

Since the amount of food in grams is calculated based on the weight of the adult dog, knowing the approximate number of litres the dog should eat daily also depends on their weight. They are recommended to drink 60 ml of water for every kilo of their bodyweight. So a dog weighing 10 kg, for example, needs to drink 600 ml of water daily. However this is only a guideline because physical activity and climate also influence it.

4

This means that a large breed of dog that, for example, weighs 20 kg, eats 300 to 400g per day and goes on two hour-long walks a day in which it gets a lot of exercise, instead of needing 1200 ml of water which would be the result of the above calculation (multiply 20 kg by 60 mL), actually requires at least a litre and a half per day. The difference is relatively small but very important.

How Much Water Should a Dog Drink Per Day - Step 4
5

On walks remember to take 10 minute breaks for the dog to drink water and rest before continuing, regardless of the breed. But don't give them more than 250 ml of water during these breaks, because excess fluid during physical activity can result in bloating, so it is important to control the quantities.

6

As for the water a puppy should drink every day, during the first three months veterinarians recommend mixing puppy food with water to soften it and make it easier to chew. Then they'll also become hydrated while they eat. As the puppy begins to eat the food and drink the water separately, the equation is the same as above, multiply 60 ml of water by its total weight. For example, a 5 month old puppy weighing 1500g should drink approximately 90ml of water daily. Remember that the weather also affects this, so if temperatures are high you should increase the amount of water.

7

The water should be fresh, not too cold or warm, to help the dog maintain a suitable body temperature. Also, if you do not have the time to calculate the suitable quantity of water, it is best to just always keep the bowl full. Always make sure your dog drinks and monitor how much. Because if they do not drink the water even with the bowl full, they may be suffering from an illness or disease and you'll have to take them to the vet. The same applies if they spend all day drinking water.

How Much Water Should a Dog Drink Per Day - Step 7
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If you want to read similar articles to How Much Water Should a Dog Drink Per Day, we recommend you visit our Pets category.

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2 comments
Rating:
jen wray
helpful.I thought my 11 kg dog was drinking more than usual.Noticed that her "downstairs" bowl needed filling daily,realised she wsnt drinking from the bathroom water dish........grandson always closed door so she couldn't get to it.All is well.thanks
OneHowTo Editor
Glad you go it sorted!
Rating:
linda strawford
this was very helpful thank you very much
How Much Water Should a Dog Drink Per Day
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How Much Water Should a Dog Drink Per Day

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