Dogs, like us humans, are made up of nearly 80 percent water. Fresh water is essential to keep the body running smoothly. Dogs need access to water at all times…both indoors and outdoors. As pet parents, its extremely important for us to ensure our dogs have a clean water source to quench their thirst and cool them down.
Water nourishes, cleanses, and hydrates all living creatures on Earth. It is essential for survival.
Top Four Reasons Water Is Important For Dogs:
1. Water helps dogs function overall. It helps your pooch digest food, think while athletically catching a frisbee, breathe in fresh oxygen, and pulse blood through the veins. The brain and muscles both require water to work well on a daily basis.
2. Water acts as a toxin flush. Without sufficient water, toxins can build up in the body and damage the heart and kidneys. Since blood is mostly water, and oxygen is transported to the body cells by red blood cells and toxins are removed by the blood cells, daily intakes of water are necessary to cause these exchanges.
3. Water regulates body temperature. It helps our dogs to remain cool in warm weather. They drink the refreshing liquid, they jump into the kiddie pool to cool down on a hot day, and they pant. Panting eliminates water through the tongue, causing a need for additional water to replenish.
4. Water helps the dogs scent function. Dogs have a remarkable ability to recognize and remember scents, far superior to that of humans. A dog’s sense of smell may be as much as 100 times better than ours, making it the most sensitive and vulnerable part of its body. Adequate amounts of water are necessary to keep their noses moist. Dry noses don’t scent as well.
Check you dog’s water bowl or fountain throughout the day to make sure it is full of clean water. This is especially important outside where water can quickly evaporate on a hot day. (Water evaporates faster than you may realize, particularly on warm and windy days)
We recommend placing the water source in the shade to keep it cooler. Most dogs enjoy some ice cubes in their water on a summer day!
More Reasons Water Is Essential For Your Dog’s Good Health:
• Water burns fuel which turns into energy
• Water helps to digest and absorb nutrients
• Water replaces other body fluids that are lost through bodily secretions
• Water carries nutrients to other cells of the body while excreting toxins from the body, allowing for proper elimination. Without water, these organs could not function properly.
• Water is necessary to regulate the blood’s acid level
Water Dishes Perfect For A Dog Friendly Garden
There are many functional and attractive dog water dishes and fountains on the market now. They range from the “high-tech” types with sensors that distribute water at your pet’s touch, to constant streaming varieties hooked up to a garden hose, to dispenser systems with flow-control valves, to the good old-fashioned weighted water bowls that never go out of style.
Remember: The water bowl or water bottle needs cleaning every day. Bacteria that you can’t see can grow in a bottle or bowl, giving the water a funny taste and discouraging your pet from drinking. Even worse, some kinds of bacteria can make animals sick. Develop the habit of giving the bowl a quick scrub with dish soap before you fill it in the morning.
How Much Water Should My Dog Drink Per Day?
It all depends on his/her activity level, size, age, and weather conditions. In general, an average dog needs to drink between 8 – 17 ounces of water per 10 pounds per pet medical experts. In other words: A 50 pound dog needs between 40 and 85 ounces of liquid refreshment to stay happy and hydrated.
Signs of Dehydration in Dogs
In general, a healthy dog will drink enough water daily to stay well hydrated, but there are a few instances where dehydration can occur. Dogs suffering from illnesses like kidney disease, diabetes, cancer and pregnant/nursing animals are at risk of becoming dehydrated more readily.
To check your dog for dehydration, try this: Pick up a fold of loose skin over the top of the shoulder blades, pull it up gently and release it. Watch for the skin to fall back into place. Under normal circumstances, healthy dog skin should quickly return to place without any hesitation. If dehydration is present, the skin will slowly return or may even stay up for a time before falling back into place.
Another way to look for dehydration is in the dog’s mouth. If the gums appear dry, sticky or pale, this is a sign of illness and dehydration. Dehydrated pets will also have dry, sunken eye balls and a dry nose and mouth. If your pet’s dehydrated, your veterinarian can give him intravenous fluids and find out what caused the problem.
If you are concerned that your dog is not getting enough water to maintain health, talk to your veterinarian for advice. Maintaining proper hydration is too important to your dog’s health to ignore.
Exercise = More Water
Just like people, pets need more water when they’re exercising. If you take your dog out for a long walk or run, bring along some water for him. Most pet stores sell light-weight, collapsible or clip on travel water bowls that are easy to carry. After a fun fetch or disc session in the backyard…steer your pup over to his water bowl.
As long as you keep an eye on your pet and make sure his water is clean and plentiful, you shouldn’t have a problem. A dog can go a long time without food, but without water he’s not going to survive.
