Water makes up about 75-80% of your dog’s body, so it’s no wonder that water plays a huge part in your dog’s appetite when it comes to the warmer weather. To stay healthy, a dog requires about one ounce of water per pound of body weight every day to keep them hydrated and regulated on the inside. So when your pup decides to slack on their drinking, what is a pet parent to do?

Water is like the glue that keeps everything together on the inside and flowing. It keeps your dog’s essential electrolytes full, allowing circulation, digestion and bowel movements to work smoothly and comfortably as well as helping their kidneys to flush out toxins from their bloodstream. When your dog stays hydrated, their joint health perks up due to water acting like a cushion and lubricant for their joints, their organ function has more support and their digestion gets the aid it needs to help break down food and absorb nutrients. 

Not getting enough water can be dangerous and can lead to dehydration. Dehydration in dogs occurs when the body loses more fluid than it’s taking in. If you’re concerned about your dog being hydrated, here are some signs that they aren’t taking in enough water:

• Dry or sticky gums

• Loss of skin elasticity

• Lethargy and weakness

• Excessive panting

• Sunken eyes

• Dry nose

• Loss of appetite

If you’re finding that your dog isn’t as enthusiastic about drinking anymore, especially in the heat, you can try to mix up their water and make staying hydrated more fun with these ideas:

1. Add Flavor! If plain water isn’t making your dog come to their bowl as much anymore, you can try to add some flavor to their water with broth or juice squeezed from dog-safe fruits. When adding flavor, make sure you are using low or no sodium broth and fruit juice and for any store bought broth, double check the ingredient list for garlic and onions since these are known as toxic flavors for your dog. 

2. Give Them Fruit! Water-filled fruits and veggies are a great way to sneak some water into your dog while they enjoy a treat. Watermelon, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe and cucumbers are some good treats that will help to put water back into your dog’s body.

3. Frozen Treats Are Cool! Ice cubes can be a fun treat and activity for your dog that can help to put some water back into their bodies. Let them chase ice cubes around or just let them munch on them as a snack. You can even freeze some smaller fruits inside the ice cubes as a reward for when they eat them.

4. Change It Up! Dogs can get bored of things just like we get bored, so try changing up their bowl or where you are placing their bowls in the house or outside. Specific types of bowls and dirty water may not be up to your dog’s drinking standards, so always keep refreshing their water and don’t be afraid to try new environments with their bowls to help keep them drinking. Another option is an indoor water fountain for a water bowl. These fountains constantly have fresh water running from them, making it a fun time for drinking for your dog. You can also try playing with them with the hose or sprinkler to help entice them into drinking as well.

Keeping up with your dog’s water intake is an essential part of keeping them healthy, especially during the hotter months. Don’t let dehydration ruin your summer plans; stay proactive with refreshing water for your dog and yourself on those hotter than hot days this summer.

Staying active on those hot summer days can be a challenge, but that’s why we’re here! Going Mutts Pet Services can help your dog beat the heat with some morning and evening walks on those extra hot days. We also happen to know some paw-fectly good shady trails to take to stay on the cooler side as well. Contact us through our website or drop us an email → info@goingmuttspetservices.com → to learn more about our pet care services for your pet care needs. 

Sources:

https://new-bowwowlabs-app.vercel.app/blogs/news/9-tips-keep-dog-hydrated-summer

https://bettervet.com/resources/pet-safety/how-to-hydrate-a-dog