Water is essential for all life, but how much water should a dog drink to stay healthy? How much water should a cat drink? Here are the general guidelines, and how to get your pet to drink more if they aren't drinking enough.
Drinking an appropriate amount of water is vital to the health of both dogs and cats:
Water is the most important nutrient! Water moisturizes the air in the lungs, transports oxygen and nutrients in the bloodstream to cells, helps regulate body temperature, protects and lubricates internal organs and joints, helps eliminate waste from the body and supports nervous system function.
A general rule of thumb for how much water a dog should drink is 1 ounce of fluids per pound of body weight. So a 10-pound dog should drink roughly 10 fluid ounces per day; a 100-pound dog should drink roughly 100 fluid ounces. How much water should a dog drink who is very active, lives in a hot climate or is lactating? Those dogs will drink more than other dogs, and puppies will often consume more water than adult dogs. A dog that eats wet food may also drink less water than a dog who eats kibble.
Drinking too much and peeing too much can be signs of an underlying medical condition in a dog. These conditions may include hormonal disorders such as diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, Cushing's syndrome, kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, fever and infection. Certain medications can cause increased thirst as well. If you notice that your dog is drinking more than usual, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Compared to dogs, cats drink less water. In general, adult cats should consume anywhere between 5 to 10 fluid ounces of water per day, depending on their size, activity level, type of food and other factors, such as overall health and ambient temperature. If you feed your cat dry kibble, then they may drink closer to 10 ounces per day, and if you feed them canned food, they may drink closer to 5 ounces because of canned food's high moisture content.
If a cat is drinking too much, pet parents may notice that they're cleaning out the litter box more often, or that the cat is suddenly hanging out by the water bowl all the time. Many of the reasons a cat will drink too much are the same as in dogs; however, the most common reasons are kidney disease, diabetes, cancer and hyperthyroidism. If you're noticing lakes in the litterbox or your cat is draining the water bowl, make an appointment to get your cat checked out by your vet as soon as possible.
Other than measuring the amount of water your dog or cat is drinking, you can watch for signs that your pet is hydrated. A well-hydrated dog or cat has good skin elasticity (if you pull up on their skin, it flattens down immediately); pink, moist gums, bright, shiny eyes and good energy levels. A hydrated dog's or cat's urine is usually odorless and pale yellow or clear.
A dehydrated dog or cat may be lethargic, their eyes may look sunken or dull, their saliva is sticky or rope-like, their gums are darker and dry and their skin elasticity is reduced. Urine of a dehydrated dog or cat with normal kidneys smells strong and can be dark yellow; however, the urine of dogs or cats with kidney disease can be clear even with dehydration. Severe dehydration can be fatal, so offer small amounts of water and call your vet immediately.
Some dogs and cats won't drink enough, even if you provide all the water they will ever need. Cats are particularly notorious for this, and if your cat isn't hydrating properly, you will need to step in and help to prevent problems associated with dehydration. Try these tips:
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