6 Tricks To Get Your Dog To Drink More Water

February 4, 2018

6 Tricks To Get Your Dog To Drink More Water

In the wintertime when it’s really cold outside, it’s not unusual for your dog to go longer without drinking. With the shorter days, they’ll probably sleep more too. As long as they’re healthy and not dehydrated or acting lethargic, you need not worry. However, there are ways to entice your dog to drink more water. 

 

Some dogs are just fussy about drinking water. For instance, my dog will only drink fresh, cold, straight-out-of-the-fridge water. So I have to change her water several times a day to keep her interested and hydrated. For other dogs, it’s a matter of getting their faces wet and not liking it. Some finicky dogs don’t like the experience of sticking their face into a bowl full of water, especially if it’s going to mess up their hair and dribble down their chin! 

 

Here are a few ways to get your dog to drink more water:

 

5 ways to get your dog to drink water

 

  1. Flavour the water – try adding some low-sodium broth or stock
  2. Electrolyte the water – add some electrolytes for flavour and replenishment
  3. Give them an ice cube -– dogs love to lick, chase, and chew these cool cubes
  4. Switch to wet food – try adding some wet food to their kibble
  5. Use a syringe or water bottle – for those finicky dogs
  6. Get a water fountain – keeps the water fresh every time your dog needs it

 

Naturally, dogs and cats are attracted to fresh, running water. It makes sense, as stagnant water or warm water is generally thought to contain more bacteria. Instinctively, your dog knows this. That’s why my dog will only drink cold, fresh water. Something like a water fountain is an ideal solution as it gives your dog two options of drinking and also a fresh supply of water whenever they need it.

 

If you’re worried about your dog and whether they’re getting enough water to drink, here’s a way to make sure they’re getting enough every day:

 

A healthy, adult dog should get about one ounce of water for every pound of body weight. My dog weighs about 48 pounds, so she should get about 48 ounces or 1.4 litres of water a day. I know that’s about three bowls of water, which means she has to have at least three refills of fresh water a day to stay hydrated. Now I know, it’s easier to meet her daily H20 requirements. Hope it helps you too.

 

by Natalie Secretan
PuppyDogCapers.com

 

Photo credit: Ian Sane - Share? (part 5)