Puppy
|
5 min
FREE UK DELIVERY ON ORDERS OVER £39.99
We don’t need to tell you how important water is - it’s the source of all life! However, while the rest of us might get away with not drinking enough pints of the good stuff on a daily basis, puppies need lots of water. And as the puppy owner, you’re responsible for keeping them well hydrated. So, why’s it so important for your puppy to drink water?
Read on as we unpack all the ways we can get your dog drinking more water - and how integral it is to a puppy’s development, health and wellbeing.
The benefits of water are endless for all of us - but for a growing puppy, getting enough is especially important.
The most obvious benefit is that water hydrates a pup, which keeps their mood high, mind alert and body functioning smoothly. A puppy’s brain, blood flow, muscles, joints, and digestion are all fuelled by a constant supply of fresh water - as without it, a pup will seem slow, unfocused and sluggish. Also, when dogs pant because they’re overheated (a way of regulating their body temperature), drinking water is vital to help them replenish the moisture lost in the process.
Although you might think ‘the more water the better!’ when it comes to your puppy, that isn’t necessarily true. How much water a puppy should drink depends on a few things…
Age
The age of your puppy influences how much water they need. Very young puppies who are still on their mum’s milk won’t need to drink much, but once they’re weaned (usually 2 months and older), they’ll need more water as they develop through different puppy stages.
Weight
Size matters! Smaller breed puppies don’t need to drink as much as bigger pups. The general rule is 40-60 ml of water per kg of your pup’s body weight.
So a 2-3kg (5lb) puppy might only need around 80-200ml (up to half a pint) of water a day.
A medium or large breed puppy requires more hydration to support their larger body mass - so a 9kg (20lb) puppy could easily guzzle 1-2 pints of water a day.
Keep in mind that some of this water’s likely to come from their food.
Diet
If your little pooch is on a diet of nutritious dry puppy food, they’ll get less hydration than those who munch on wet puppy food. You can add some water to your dog’s dry food to boost the moisture content, or just make sure you offer them lots to drink throughout the day.
If your pooch is on a 100% wet food diet, they may drink very little fresh water. This is generally no cause for concern.
Activity Level
An active puppy that’s constantly running, digging and playing will need that H2O hit to energise them, while a pooch that’s more of a lounger/lap dweller will still need to drink, but probably won’t feel as thirsty. If you’ve taken your puppy on a longer, more vigorous walk than usual, they’ll want to drink - both while out on the walk and when they get home. Be sure to bring water with you, and stop for breaks so they’re never parched.
Environment
Your puppy will want to drink more if it’s hot outside, and especially when we get the occasional heatwave in the UK - this is because heat causes puppy bodies to lose moisture through panting and paw sweating. Puppies who live in colder climates won’t need to drink as much.
You might feel concerned about the amount your puppy drinks, particularly if they don’t seem fussed about drinking water when it’s offered. If your pooch regularly turns their nose up at the water bowl, it could be due to the following factors:
So when should you worry that your puppy isn’t drinking enough water? While a disinterest in water can be overlooked for the odd day, if this habit continues or your pup seems unwell, it may be a cause for concern. What you don’t want to see is signs of dehydration in your fussy pup. Keep a close eye out for the following:
Dry mouth. Their mouth and tongue isn’t glistening with moisture, and their gums might be sticky to the touch.
Nose isn’t wet. An occasionally dry nose is normal - but if your dog’s nose is dry to the touch most of the time, they may be dehydrated.
Lethargy, weakness. They seem down and low in energy compared to their usual, sprightly self.
Sunken eyes that are dull-looking rather than glistening/sparkly.
Excessive panting that doesn’t seem warranted (i.e. panting even when they haven’t been active or it isn’t hot).
If your pup’s showing these signs, make a special effort to get them to drink immediately, and book in to see your vet.
Perhaps your vet’s suggested you increase their moisture intake? If your pup seems dehydrated or just not at all excited by the prospect of waterl, there are nifty ways you can ‘nudge’ your pup into drinking more…
Deliver water in novel ways.
It goes without saying that you should offer your dog their water bowl to encourage them to drink - but they needn’t just get water from their boring old bowl. Appeal to their ancestral canine instincts by keeping numerous water sources around the place for them to discover!
This could be a dripping outside tap, or a hosepipe or water sprinkler in the garden. You could also keep a bucket outside that catches rain water, or fill up a paddling pool for the kids to play in, and your dog to stick their nose into. Ice cubes can also help, as they trigger chewing endorphins for dogs as well as hydrating them. You could even try pouring water from a bottle into your palm, to see if they’ll drink from your open hand. Get inventive!
Dehydration is more likely if your pooch only eats dry puppy food. If this is the case, adding water to your dog’s food can help soften them and add to their water intake. Even if they eat a juicy wet puppy food, add a drizzle of water and mix it in well to sneak even more moisture into their diet.
Why not try something else?
If your pup’s not keen on water, it may be worth offering some bone broth, dog soup or a rehydration solution (like Oralade or Lectade). These should be offered alongside water, rather than in place of it.
If you’re still worried about your puppy not drinking and none of the above tips help, you should take them to the vet. This is particularly important if they’re showing signs of dehydration, and are persistently refusing to drink when you offer water to them. If they’re also showing other signs of sickness such as vomiting or diarrhoea, then make an emergency vet appointment.
Comments (0)
Leave a comment