How Much Water Does a Dog Need? The Complete Guide

Water. You know your dog needs it. After all, you fill up his water bowl every day. But why is water so important? And how much water should a dog drink? It seems like a simple enough concept, but understanding why dogs need to drink water and how much they should typically drink during the day will help you keep your dog healthier and happier.

How Much Water Do Dogs Need in a Day?

Generally, a dog should drink one ounce of water for each pound of body weight. For example, a 30-pound dog needs to drink 30 ounces of water daily. But don't pull out the measuring cup just yet. The typical, healthy dog does just fine monitoring their water intake.

Various factors can affect an individual dog's water needs. Highly active dogs will need more water than those who prefer to lounge all day. On hot days, dogs need to drink more water to stay hydrated when they're outside. Pregnant or lactating female dogs need more water to meet the nutritional demands of pregnancy and nursing.

Diet also affects water intake. Canned food has a very high moisture count, so dogs that eat canned food may need to drink less water than dogs eating kibble.

If you're wondering how much water your puppy needs, it will depend on your puppy's age, activity level, and size. Puppies being weaned need about ½ cup of water every two hours, while older and fully weaned puppies need about one-half ounce to 1 ounce of water per day per pound of body weight.

Your veterinarian can help you determine how much water your dog needs per day.

Why Is Water So Important for Dogs?

Water is essential to the healthy functioning of all your pup’s bodily systems. In the same way that you protect your dog’s health by vaccinating them, you can help keep them healthy by ensuring that they always have fresh, clean water available.

Water plays a critical role in:

Lubricating and cushioning joints
Cushioning internal organs
Protecting the spinal cord
Assisting in digestion
Regulating body temperature
Assisting in the absorption of nutrients
Transporting oxygen to cells
Eliminating waste through sweat, urination, and poop

My dog’s not drinking water

If your dog’s not drinking water, or seems to have reduced their water intake significantly it could be down to a few reasons, including:

Lack of exercise

If the weather’s cooler and/or your dog has been doing less exercise their water intake may decrease. This is because they won’t need to lose as much heat so won’t be losing as much water through evaporation.

Taste of the water

Dogs have a super keen sense of smell and if the water smells unfamiliar – for example if you’re in a different location – they may be reluctant to drink it. If your dog tends to do this, you can add more water to their food to increase water intake.

Unclean bowl

Most dogs will relish drinking from muddy puddles, however they do still like their drinking bowl to be clean! Dirty water bowls can be a health hazard for your dog as they contain bacteria, but it’s also not nice for them to drink. Make sure you give them clean, fresh water every day. Remember to wash your dog’s water bowls out regularly with mild soapy water, and rinse thoroughly.

Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water?

There are four main reasons why your dog might seem to be drinking more water than usual, and these are diet, activity level, illness, and medication:

Diet

A diet that's high in sodium can cause a disruption in your body's fluid levels, leading to increased thirst. Additionally, dogs eating dry food might drink more water compared to those on wet food because wet food provides more moisture.

Activity Level

Highly active dogs may drink more water to stay hydrated, especially in hot weather.

Illness

Increased water intake can be a sign of underlying health issues such as kidney problems, diabetes, fever, or a urinary tract infection (UTI). If you notice excessive drinking along with other symptoms, consult your veterinarian.

Medication

Certain medications, like anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid drugs, can increase a dog's thirst and water intake.

Conclusion

Water is the most important part of your dog's diet because it plays a role in nearly every bodily function. Dogs should drink approximately 1 oz of water per pound of body weight daily, although this amount can vary based on individual factors.

Dogs lose fluids daily, which they generally replace by drinking water. If your dog loses more fluid than they take in, they are at risk of dehydration, a dangerous and potentially life-threatening condition. As serious as dehydration is for your pup, drinking too much water can also be life-threatening.

If you suspect your dog is dehydrated or if you notice them consuming more water than usual, contact your vet immediately, as these can be signs of a medical condition.