Puppies undoubtedly make good pets. They are loving and adorable. You can observe they are very energetic. They enjoy playing and will keep you occupied with their liveliness. While they grow, you must take good care of their health.
Puppies will require proper hydration and nutrition to turn into healthy adult dogs. Their bodies need more water for their growth. It also aids them to remain in good health. As a responsible owner of your cute pet, you should know everything related to their well-being.
For a puppy, water intake is very much important.
1. How Much Water a Puppy Should Drink?
Generally, your puppy needs to consume one ounce of water per pound of body weight regularly. Nevertheless, you cannot expect this to be the same for all puppies.
- The water intake may differ depending on your puppy’s body weight, size, and activities. Extremely active dogs also need lots of water.
- You can notice that young puppies will stay hydrated due to their mother’s milk. But, once they start weaning and consume solid food, they must drink water.
- Your young puppy might require about one-half cup of water for two hours once.
- You have to ensure your puppy is not drinking too much water.
It is alright if your puppy’s water intake is within the limit. So, why should water intake be within the specified limit? Because if it is not within the limits, it will result in excessive urination in puppies.
2. How to Ensure Your Puppy Drinks Sufficient Water?
- You have to ensure your puppy drinks sufficient water. You can do this by monitoring their water intake.
- Place a bowl filled with water and check regularly whether the level has increased or decreased.
- If the water level is getting reduced often, it means your puppy is drinking water. So, refill it immediately.
- If you find it hard to make your puppy drink water, don’t worry. There are ways to fix this problem.
- You can include a small amount of chicken or beef broth in your puppy’s water bowl. This addition may seem attractive and motivate your puppy to drink effectively.
- You can also try changing its water bowls. Maybe your puppy might prefer something more comfortable. Or keep the water bowl in their preferred spot. A change of place might work wonders.
3. How Much Water Should Your Puppy Consume During Potty Training?
Proper hydration plays a vital role during potty training. If puppies are dehydrated, they cannot control their bladder. Controlling becomes challenging as their urine turns concentrated. As a result, accidents tend to happen in your house.
The situation will become tricky if these things take place. To succeed in your potty training efforts, and to prevent puppy dehydration, making your puppy drink enough water is the best way. When you do this, your puppy will remain hydrated, and you can ensure accidents do not occur.
Also, while your puppy is getting potty trained, you can remove their water bowl two to three hours before they sleep. This way, your puppy may rarely need a bathroom break at midnight. Once you finish potty training, always place a bowl of fresh water for your cuddle buddy without fail.
3.1. What about Day Time?
During day time, you need not restrict your puppy’s water consumption. They require more water. If this need is not satisfied, they are at a greater risk of facing dehydration.
Additionally, if you restrict their water consumption, it can result in obsessive behavior namely resource guarding. You can potty train puppies, but during the morning times, avoid restricting their water intake.
4. Why is it Significant for Your Puppy to Drink Water?
Water is mandatory for your puppy to stay healthy. It is also helpful for its development. Your puppy should have regular access to water while growing. This arrangement is necessary because water helps your dog’s body perform the required functions to turn into a healthy adult dog.
- Water takes care of your dog’s metabolic process. The functions falling under this process include brain activity, digestion, breathing, and blood flow. The primary constituent of blood is water. When it flows through your dog’s body, it helps to eliminate harmful toxins. It also transports oxygen.
- In the absence of water, all these processes are impossible. Hence, it can harm your dog’s vital organs.
- Water is also essential in regulating your puppy’s body temperature. In hot weather conditions, you can observe your puppy panting.
- When they pant, it helps your puppy remain cool. This state is because they release water through evaporation. The downside of this action is your puppy is losing water through his tongue.
Hence, your pet may need more water than it usually does.
4.1. Benefits of Water for Puppies
When your puppy consumes water, it helps in the following body functions:
- Regulation of body temperature
- Removal of toxins from the body
- Elimination of waste from the body
- Healthy blood flow for supplying oxygen to parts and tissues
- Helps in Digestion
5. What to do if Your Puppy is Not Interested in Drinking Water?
You should closely monitor your puppy’s drinking habits to prevent dehydration and overhydration. Sometimes, your puppy may not show much interest in drinking water. You can try the methods below to pique their interest:
- Add some ice cubes to your puppy’s water bowl.
- Add chicken or bone broth to your puppy’s drinking water.
- Place your puppy’s favorite treat at the bottom of his drinking bowl.
- Clean your puppy’s food and water bowls constantly. If you follow this activity, you can avoid bacterial infection. This infection can cause dehydration.
- Keep your pet’s water bowls in easily reachable places.
- Place only fresh, clean water regularly.
- Blend dry food as well as wet food.
- Provide hydrating diets.
All these tricks might make your puppy drink sufficient water.
6. What Happens if Your Puppy Doesn’t Receive Proper Water Intake?
If your puppy does not get the required water, they will get dehydrated. Young dogs have a high chance of getting dehydrated. However, you can prevent this risk by giving them regular access to clean water.
If your puppy has any underlying health problem that might cause vomiting, excessive panting, diarrhea, excessive urination, a fever, fluid loss, or dehydration can occur.
So, you have to be aware of the dehydration signs in puppies. You can find a few methods below to check for dehydration in puppies. It will help you to recognize and take immediate measures if your puppy has dehydration.
6.1. Sticky Gums
Apply pressure against the gums of your puppy with your finger. This action will stop the blood flow briefly. When you apply pressure, the particular area will turn white.
Once you release the pressure, it should restore to pink within seconds. If you notice a delay, it implies your puppy is dehydrated.
6.2. Skin Elasticity Test
You can gently pull the scruff on your puppy’s neck, stretch it, and release it. Once released, the skin should restore instantly. If this action is not immediate, you can know your puppy has dehydration.
6.3. Lethargic
If your puppy is down with dehydration, you can notice them being lethargic. They won’t be active enough. They will lose their interest in playing and would prefer sleeping a lot.
6.4. Sunken Eyes
If your puppy has severe dehydration, it is natural for them to lose lots of fluids. Hence, you can find their eyes to be dull and sunken.
7. What Happens if Your Puppy Drinks Excess Water?
Water is essential for puppies. It helps them in many ways. However, this does not mean your lovely pet can consume excess water. If it does so, your puppy will suffer from overhydration or a life-threatening condition called water intoxication.
This condition is caused mainly due to swimming. Because your dog accidentally takes lots of water here. The same can occur while puppies are playing in the water too.
If you observe your puppy showing any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Pale gums
- Excessive salivation
- Bloating
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Staggering
- Vomiting
8. What are the Other Factors Responsible for Water Intoxication in Puppies?
Polydipsia can cause water intoxication in puppies. When they suffer from this disorder, they tend to drink excessive water. The various factors causing Polydipsia include the following:
- Cushing’s disease
- Diabetes
- Bladder infections
- Kidney disease
- Certain medications, namely Corticosteroids.
9. FAQs
How Much of Water Should a Puppy Drink?
Water is mandatory for your puppy. You have to monitor if they are taking water regularly. Simultaneously, you should ensure that they drink the appropriate amount of water. Generally, your pet needs to consume one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day.
What Causes Over-Hydration in Puppies?
Overhydration occurs when your puppy drinks excess water. It is also a dangerous condition. Hence, always keep checking the water intake of your pet.
Bottom Line
It is always a pleasure to bring home a new puppy. However, along with your enjoyment, you should bear the responsibilities too. Take good care of your puppy, provide a safe environment, and feed them healthy food.
Along with food, water intake is equally important. Follow the suggestions above, and you need not worry anymore.
Last Updated on by Sathi