Every living thing has cells, and water is the major component of these cells. Your dog needs water to keep its body functioning as expected. Without water, it is at the risk of dehydration. So, it is best always to clean your dog’s water bowl and refill it with water regularly, preferably every day. Another thing to watch out for is an increased consumption of water. In that case, your dog may be ill.
This article attempts to answer the question of how much water a dog should drink. Read on to find out how your dog is faring in the water consumption department.
How much water should a dog drink?
Most scientific resources agree that the ideal water intake is 1-2 ml per kilogram of body weight per hour. That is like 25-50ml/kg in 24 hours. So, a dog with a 10kg body weight will ordinarily require 480ml of water in the space of 24 hours. This is not resolute, considering every dog has unique body composition and metabolism rates. Furthermore, how much food and the type of food a dog eats can also affect the amount of water they consume.
If your dog is drinking more water than usual but still under the expected daily consumption limits, it may be at the risk of dehydration. Conversely, anything above 50ml/kg within 24 hours may point to polydipsia. Polydipsia is confirmed if it is above 100ml/kg within the same time frame. Polyuria is a situation where your dog produces more urine than normal.
What are the implications of insufficient water in dogs?
The body requires to carry out several functions effectively. So, without water, your dog is at risk of dehydration and illness. If it continues for long, organs are deteriorated, with the liver, kidney, and other essential organs giving way. Death is the climax.
You can expect a healthy dog to drink just sufficient water to be properly hydrated. However, certain situations may occur where your dog may experience dehydration or be at a high risk of dehydration. These include kidney malfunctioning, metabolic problems, cancer, and pregnancy.
What causes constant thirst in dogs?
If your dog drinks and urinates excessively, then it may be suffering from an underlying health problem. Some medical conditions that fit the bill include diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases, cancer, fever, liver disease, infection, and Cushing’s syndrome. In addition, your dog can drink more than usual if it is under certain medications. Whatever the probable cause is, visit your veterinarian if your dog is always thirsty.
What are the indications of overhydration?
The chances of your dog getting overhydrated until it causes a problem are slim. Overhydration often points to an underlying medical issue. But in other cases, it may not point to any reason or situation. For example, your dog is overhydrating if you notice an increased frequency of urination, increased saliva production, vomiting, or bloating.
Always report to the veterinarian if you notice an increased water consumption by your dog. Your veterinarian may advise rationing the water you add to their bowl over the day, provided the dog is not suffering from any medical problem.
How does a dog know when to drink water?
Your dog has several cells in its body, each with different needs. Therefore, the electrolyte composition and fluid levels remain within a narrow range. The most interesting part is that even your dog doesn’t know about these involuntary changes in its body. Every animal has a natural thirst instinct that notifies them when they require water to continue performing optimally. Dehydration in dogs becomes prominent only after days of complete absence of water, especially with vital organs failing.
Once there is a fluid or electrolyte deficit in your dog’s body, its brain cells signal to the kidney and other parts of the body. In response, hormones are secreted into the bloodstream, transporting them to the receptors on specialized cells. Eventually, the body automatically adjusts the amount of urine produced while increasing the blood volume and keeping the blood pressure constant.
The brain’s thirst center sends a clear sign to the brain, prompting the animal to drink water to make up the fluid volume. This chain of communication involves the brain, kidneys, and adrenal glands. It ensures the body can maintain a fluid balance that keeps all the organs working perfectly and ultimately keeps your dog healthy.
