How to Keep Your Dog Hydrated

Dogs need to drink water to keep their body hydrated. Water serves many vital purposes for the dog’s body, such as keeping them hydrated, removing waste, assisting in proper digestion, and promoting good urinary tract health.

So how do you keep your dog hydrated? There are many creative ways to keeping your pup hydrated. Some of them include putting water bowls in multiple places throughout the house, getting larger water bowls, adding water to your dog’s food, and other methods such as drinking fountains or a dog-friendly smoothie.

Your pup does not understand the importance of keeping themselves hydrated, and as a result, they depend on your help to encourage them to drink enough water. Take a glance at the information below and find out more about how to keep your dog hydrated.

How Do You Keep Your Dog Hydrated?

Sometimes dogs, like humans, do not drink enough water. Dogs do not understand the importance of keeping themselves hydrated. Therefore, you may need to get creative when making sure your pup drinks enough water. The following are some ideas on how to do this:

Put Water Bowls in Various Places in the House

If you only have one water bowl for your dog in the house, chances are they are not drinking enough water. You should have water bowls in more than one area so that your dog will be encouraged to drink more water.

Don’t forget to put a bowl outside as well, and to keep the water fresh for your pup!

Add Water to Your Dog’s Food

When you add water to your pups’ food, it is a great way to keep them hydrated. You can add water to their dry and wet food; however, be exceptionally generous when it comes to their canned food. Wet dog food contains around 70 to 90 percent moisture content, while kibble has only about 10 percent moisture.

When adding the water, make sure it is not too cold. Lukewarm water is ideal. You should combine equal parts of water with kibble and then soak the kibble for about 10 or 15 minutes before feeding it to your pup.

Get a Bigger Dog Bowl

Your dog’s water bowl should hold at least a quart of water. Dogs typically drink 20 to 40 milliliters of water per pound of body weight each day – meaning an average 50lb dog will need 4 to 8 cups of water per day!

Most pet parents buy the same sized bowls for their dog’s food and water, but it is important to note that the water bowl should be larger than the food bowl.

Create the Perfect Smoothie for Your Pup

You can get your dog hydrated by making a special smoothie for them. Just make sure there is no sugar involved or any other ingredients that could harm your pup. You should only put a small amount of non-fat Greek yogurt in the smoothie.

Bigger dogs can have more than smaller dogs. However, if your dog is lactose intolerant, skip the yogurt and add more ice. Green vegetables like spinach are a good choice for pups. Strawberries, blueberries, and apples are also great options. Fruit helps with hydration, and your dog will love it!

Do Not Forget to Take Water Along

Make sure you take water along when you leave the house with your dog. Sometimes when you go to places like the dog park, they do not always have drinking fountains for the dogs. You want your pup to be hydrated when they are running around, especially in the heat.

Try a collapsible water bowl, a travel dog water bowl, or even a food bowl.

Try a Dog Drinking Fountain

Dogs like to drink running water. It is ingrained in them that running water is freshwater, while still water is not always the healthy or safe option. Pets are often drawn to running water and are more likely to drink from a water fountain than a bowl or dish.

What Causes Dehydration in Dogs?

Dogs are in danger of being dehydrated when their water intake does not match their activity level. When it is hot outside and your dog has been exercising, they can suffer from dehydration. If your dog is panting excessively, this can also lead to dehydration.

The most common cause of dehydration in dogs is overheating or perspiring, primarily through the paws, which is correlated with exercise or dry weather. When a dog is dehydrated, they lose electrolytes.

Electrolytes are minerals that include sodium, chloride, and potassium. Your dog needs to replace the lost electrolytes by drinking electrolyte-infused water. Keeping electrolytes balanced in your pup’s body helps regulate the appropriate amount of water in your dog.

Dogs who have kidney failure or diabetes are more prone to dehydration, as these illnesses cause them to urinate more frequently. Even if your pup drinks more because of a condition like diabetes, it is not enough to offset the loss of water through excess urination.

Dogs may also get dehydrated if they have been vomiting or having diarrhea. The rapid loss of fluid in the body can be detrimental to your pup’s health. Other causes of dehydration in dogs include heatstroke or fever.

If your dog is older, pregnant or nursing, or small, your pup may be more susceptible to dehydration. If you think your canine may be dehydrated, do not hesitate to get them to the vet. The vet will provide intravenous fluids for 24 to 48 hours. This treatment will replace and counteract the loss of more fluids.

What are the Warnings of Dehydration in Dogs?

Sometimes it can be tough to know how much water your pup has been drinking. You may need to monitor them closely if you see signs that they could be dehydrated. Some of the common indications of dehydration in dogs include the following:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dry gums
• Decreased appetite
• Lack of energy
• Excessive panting

If you believe your pup may be dehydrated, get them to the veterinarian. The vet can monitor your pup and administer fluids if necessary.

Conclusion

When you encourage your pup to stay hydrated, it can help them avoid many health problems such as kidney issues and urinary tract infections.

If your dog is not consuming an adequate quantity of water, you need to find creative ways to get them to drink and keep them hydrated. Like humans, your canine companion requires the right amount of H20 to stay healthy.

Bowman Animal Hospital and Cat Clinic in Raleigh, NC is here to help at 919-847-6216 with any questions about keeping your dog hydrated.