By Eukanuba Pro Staff for workingdogmagazine.com
How much water should your dog drink?
Drinking water is important for everyone, and it’s especially important for dogs. Water supports all body systems, helps maintain temperature, improves absorption of nutrition and many other things. But is there a particular amount of water your dog should drink? In fact, there is.
Why water is so important for dogs. Russ Kelley, the Science Lead Nutritionist at Eukanuba’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center says, “A dog’s body is approximately 70% water. That water is used by cells in every body system, from the muscular to the nervous to the digestive systems and all others. The amount of water in a dog’s body is called his hydration status, and it can quickly change. Warm or hot weather, high humidity, higher elevations, and increased exercise cause dogs to lose water, and if they don’t drink enough then they can run the risk of dehydration. When a dog is dehydrated their performance levels drop, but there’s a more important reason, too; their overall health can suffer. Proper hydration is very important.”
Kelley says, “A statement from a recent working dog summary concluded that dogs are capable of recovering after losing the majority of their fat and half of their muscle tissue…while the loss of only 10% of their body’s water can result in death. That statement alone should have owners asking, “how much water does my dog require?”
- Daily water losses for a 20 kg (44 lb.) dog can range from 1400-5400 ml (0.5 -1.5 US gallons) depending upon activity and environmental setting. The bigger the dog the more water he should drink.
- You can determine how much water your dog should drink based on the amount of food he eats. Simply multiply the number of cups of dry food offered daily by 3 cups. Example: If your dog eats two cups of food then he’ll need to drink at least six cups of water.
- Keep in mind that this range is the minimum amount of water your dog should be drinking daily when working. When it comes to water intake, more is always better.
Five ways to keep dogs hydrated
- Regular water breaks. Take regular water breaks with your dog, especially when working in the heat. Provide fresh, cool water at each interval. The water should be cool, but not icy cold.
- Pack it in. If you’re going into a remote, dry area far away from natural water sources like streams or ponds, pack in enough water for the run time. Dogs require a lot of water, and a backpack with a bladder is a good start enough. Bottles are fine for shorter runs or if you will wind up near a stream or pond. If you carry water in a backpack or in a bottle be sure to toss in a few ice cubes before you leave. Bladders that are against your back heat up and warm water doesn’t help cool off dogs.
- Pre-hydration If you know you’re going to have a long day then pre-hydrate your dog. Start increasing water intake 3-5 days before an activity. One way to do it is to add water to your dog’s food. Measure out water in a 1:1 ratio and feed immediately as some dogs don’t like soggy kibble. If you’re working your dogs regularly you might want to include water in his dog food every day. Studies from the University of Pennsylvania show that dogs working for successive days in a hot environment will be chronically dehydrated.
- Water baiting is another pre-hydration strategy. Add a tablespoon of high-fat canned dog food to a water bowl. Most dogs will gladly consume the water to reach the offered food.
- Keep water in bowls clean. Refresh water bowls regularly. Exercising dogs develop a thick, pasty saliva that rinses off when they drink from a bowl. Clean, fresh water is more enticing.
Is there such a thing as bad water? Well, yes, there is. Dr. Jill Cline, the Site Director for Eukanuba’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center says, “Cooling off in a mud puddle is ok, but drinking from it can cause illness. Bacteria and protozoa found in the standing mud puddles cause Giardia and diarrhea which reduces the dog’s performance.
Saltwater. If you’re working near saltwater don’t let thirsty dogs drink. “The salt in the water is a dehydrator,” says Dr. Cline. “Thirsty dogs will naturally start drinking any available water, but saltwater can be problematic. If dogs consume enough saltwater then their kidneys can shut down. Owners should pull dogs immediately away from the saltwater and re-hydrate with freshwater. The easiest way at a beach is to pour bottled water into their mouths or into a collapsible bowl.”
Dogs working in commercial areas should have bowls fill with potable water. In many situations, non-potable water is available for use and should not be given to dogs.
For proper body functions, water is super important. It’s especially important in the hot, humid months. Keep dogs working at their peak by ensuring that they’ve got plenty of clean water to drink.
