Hydration is key to our pet’s overall health and well-being. Just like humans, dogs and cats need plenty of water to live a healthy, active lifestyle. Made all the more critical by hot Summer days in Iowa, having a plan to ensure that your pet is sufficiently hydrated can avoid future health issues like kidney disease, urinary tract infections, and heatstroke. On a daily basis, good hydration habits is a step toward helping your furry friend feel their best and ensures they keep providing the love your family cherishes.
First, the basics. While the need for proper water intake may seem obvious, the specific amount of water can often leave pet owners puzzled.
1. Know Where to Start
In general, dogs should drink approximately one ounce of water (one eighth of a cup) per pound of body weight each day. For example, if you consider a full-grown labrador retriever weighing 75 pounds, that’s a little over half a gallon of water per day.
A cat should ideally drink four ounces of water per five pounds of body weight daily. A 10-pound cat should drink roughly 8 ounces, or 1 cup of water per day.
2. Consider Your Pet’s Lifestyle and Habits
For both cats and dogs, other factors can lead to needing more or less water consumption. Pets who live outside or are very active will need more water, and pets who consume dry food may need more as well, considering wet pet food contains a considerable amount of water itself.
As much as we may wish our pets could speak directly to us and let us know they are thirsty, it’s important for owners to be able to identify dehydration when it occurs. Watch for signs like out-of-character, or out-of-routine fatigue, consistent dry nose, sunken eyes, thick saliva, or loss of skin elasticity. A gentle “pinch test” once per day of your dog or cat can be a great indication of their hydration level during these summer months.
3. Be Prepared to Improvise
Still, as frustrating as it may be, some pets may stubbornly refuse water or simply be too preoccupied with the distractions of summer and family fun to stop and take a drink.
A few helpful tips to encourage water flow can include freezing a yummy (and hydrating) treat like watermelon, or encouraging hydration during regular activities, such as taking along a bottle of water during a walk with your dog. Cats on the other hand tend to drink in quiet, safe places away from their litter box. Some owners find it surprising just how much switching up the location of a water bowl can encourage their feline friends to drink.
For both dogs and cats, the “two in one” method is also a popular solution. Simply mix water with food (dry or wet) and cleverly sneak extra hydration into mealtime.
Overall, making sure your dogs and cats get enough water every day is one of the simplest ways to support their overall health. Keep an eye on their water bowl, adjust for their lifestyle, and when in doubt, give any one of our five Animal Health Centers a call. We’d be happy to answer any of your questions and schedule a checkup.
