How much water does my fur child need?

“As I said in a previous tip, water is an essential nutrient for dogs. Your dog loses its body water primarily through respiration (including panting), urination, and defecation, as well as lactation if she is a nursing mother. Lost water must be replaced every day, or it will severely compromise the health of your dog. Generally, at room temperature (65-75°F) a dog needs one-tenth of a cup of water for each pound of body weight for the day, if s(he) is kept indoors. In other words, a medium-sized, 22-pound dog would need about two-and-a-quarter cups of water per day, if kept indoors. However, activity will increase water loss through respiration, as will exposure to higher temperatures. Most estimates say that your fur child will need about 3.2 ml per pound of body weight for every hour of activity at room temperature. And, for every 1.8°F above 86°F, a dog will need an extra 1.5 ml of water per pound of body weight per hour. In other words, a 22-pound dog going for a hike with its owner in the Texas panhandle, when the outside temperature is 95°F, requires almost a cup of water for every hour of hiking. Of course, when hot and panting, your dog may not drink that cup of water at once. Just make sure that your fur child gets it as soon as possible, by increasing how often you supply water.“Please use this information as a general rule of thumb, since the water requirements for individual dogs vary. Contact me if you’d like to know more about the specific water requirements of your dog.” ~ Dr. Anoosh

Dr. Anoosh has a PhD in animal nutrition and has published numerous research articles on nutrition in animals, particularly during stress. His weekly tips and advice about animal nutrition are not meant to replace medical recommendations from your pet’s veterinarian.