Is Your Dog HydratedJuly was Pet Hydration Month.

During the summer, pet parents tend to pay more attention to how much water goes into their dogs bodies. But we have to keep in mind, ensuring our 4 legged friends are well hydrated is important all year round, not just in the summer months.

So, is your dog drinking enough water? How do you know?

Perk up your ears pups, we have the down low on H20!

How much water is my dog suppose to drink on a daily basis?

You might be surprised by how much water your dog is recommended to drink every day. On a regular day, your dog should drink in the area of 1 ounce per pound of body weight. If your dog gets a good amount of exercise in a day, he may need a little more water. Also, during the summer, on those nasty heat wave days, it is important to adjust water amounts accordingly.

Is Your Dog Drinking Enough Water? Here’s How to Keep Your Dog HealthyAs important as it is to keep our dogs hydrated, we also have to make sure they do not over-hydrate.

Yes, it is possible for a dog to drink too much water! Basically it is water intoxication. Hyponatremia can occur when more water enters the body than it can process. Thus diluting bodily fluids. The extra water effects the sodium levels in the body – sodium maintains blood pressure and nerve muscle function, so you can imagine the outcome if these things become unbalanced. Now that we have the scientific mumbo jumbo out of the way, let’s move on to some different ways you can ensure proper hydration for your dog.

I have a dog who doesn’t drink enough water, what can I do? 

  1. Add some warm water to your dogs food. Not only does it bring out the smell and taste of the food, it will help keep your dog hydrated as well.
  2. If you feed dry dog food, try adding a scoop or two of canned wet food to their bowl. Wet food has a lot of water in it, and can help with a picky pup.
  3. Make sure your dogs water bowl is clean. Bacteria can build up on the side of their bowl, and not only can that make your pup sick, it could also make him lose interest in his bowl. I mean, I wouldn’t want to drink from a dirty cup every day, why would my dog?
  4. Make your dog a soup! Boil up some water with chicken (unseasoned) and give your dog a treat, while hydrating them. (Always cool your soup down before feeding.)
  5. Sometimes it can be as simple as changing their water bowl. After some trial and error a few years ago, I had figured out why my husky wasn’t drinking enough water. Turns out, she HATED plastic bowls. I went out and bought a metal one, no problems since!


If your dog drinks too much, or too little, it is important for you, as a pet parent, to monitor their water intake. If you notice your dogs want for H20 has significantly changed, there may be an underlying health issue, and you should seek veterinarian attention.

Did you know?

Just like humans, a dogs body is made up of about 80% water?
– Is your dog drinking enough water? Share some of your water tips in the comments! -

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The post Is Your Dog Drinking Enough Water? Get the Facts on H20! appeared first on 4Knines Dog Blog.