5 Clever Ways to Keep Your Dog Hydrated This Summer

Would it surprise you to know that 75 - 80% of your fur baby’s body is water? Water is contained in every cell in every organ, where it bathes joints, cushions and nourishes the brain, plumps skin, and carries nutrients to tissues. To stay healthy, a dog requires about one ounce of water per pound of body weight every day, which would equal about two cups of water for a 15-pound pupper.

Most dogs consume enough of this essential liquid on their own, but what if your pooch can’t – or won’t – drink as much as they should? There can be many reasons, including the inability to get to their bowl because of an injury, an illness or factors in their environment. Regardless of the reason, not getting enough water can be dangerous, and could cause dehydration that can make your dog ill. 

This year for National Pet Hydration Awareness Month, we are exploring a few clever ways you can keep a dog hydrated if they won’t drink enough on their own, whether that's in the heat of summer, or anytime they need it. But first, let's see what happens when our furvorite pals get dehydrated.

Dehydration is a serious condition that can affect anyone, including your furry pal. Severe dehydration can dry out skin and mucus membranes which allows infectious microorganisms to enter, inhibit critical functions like digestion and waste removal leading to toxin buildup in the body, and contribute to malnutrition. But it could also cause even more serious conditions, such as impairing central nervous system function, anemia, and failure of the kidney, liver, or other organs! 

Our bodies' normal thirst drive usually keeps us consuming enough water to ensure none of these things occur, but when it's hot outside, or access to water is difficult, dehydration can happen quickly to humans and dogs. 

How do you protect your dog? By knowing the signs of dehydration and getting your pup rehydrated! A few signs of early dehydration include:

• Excessive panting
• Dry nose, mouth, and gums
• Sticky mucous membranes
• Pale gums
• Slowed or sluggish movements
• Dulled responses or mental activity

If you see any of these signs in your dog, get them hydrated immediately and call your vet! 

The best way to prevent your dog from getting dehydrated is to keep them drinking water, but sometimes that can be challenging. Check out the following tips for easy ways to get moisture into your pup!

Most doggos eat kibble with a bowl of water on the side. Usually, they drink water after eating and a few times during the day. If your pup is eating but not drinking reliably, you can ensure they get more water by adding some to their food, whether it’s kibble or wet. Switching to wet food from dry, or mixing the two may also be helpful because wet dog food already has a higher moisture content. Adding a couple tablespoons of H2O to any food makes it easy to get a bit more moisture into your dog's body.

If plain water doesn’t interest your pup, they might be tempted to drink it with add-ins like broth or juice squeezed from pup-safe fruits. For broth, be sure to use low- or no-sodium varieties, or make your own saltless version. Check the ingredient list on store-bought broth for onions and garlic, too – both of these flavor boosters are toxic to dogs. OssoGood is a company that offers dog-safe bone broths without added salt, onions, or garlic. Look for them online.

Homemade bone broths are easy and inexpensive to make. Simply toss some meat or poultry bones in a large pan with water and simmer on very low heat for about 24 hours. A slow cooker is a pawfect, safe method free of worry. Choose knuckle bones if possible, to increase the collagen content. To make meat broths, follow the same process, using just pieces of meat or a whole chicken. The simmering time is shorter, only a couple of hours. An added bonus is the meat, which can be offered as treats or toppers for food.

Try treating Fido with chunks of water-filled fruits like watermelon and strawberries, or veggies like cucumbers, which are 98% water. There are many juicy fruits and vegetables that are safe and delicious for pooches, including crunchy apples and sweet orange slices. Fruit is also a good choice as a topper on pups' food, but remember that it contains sugar along with its healthful water. Moderation is best, as with any treats.

If you and your fur baby are planning a road trip or a hike, take plenty of water, but don't furget that fruit is another pawsome way to get some moisture into both of you. Tuck an apple or two in your backpack!

Chasing ice cubes around the floor and chewing noisily on them when they "catch" them is many dogs' idea of a great time! As hydrating treats, it doesn't get any better than this for these pups! Berries or small chunks of other fruits and veggies frozen in the cubes can be the prize for chewing all the way to the center! 

On warm summer days, there's nothing like a frozen treat to cool off! You can even make your own pupsicles filled with water or broth and fruit bits with a bone-shaped treat for a handle! Or try frozen or chilled homemade smoothies chock full of antioxidant-rich ingredients like pumpkin or blueberries!

Doggos may turn up their noses at a specific type of bowl, such as stainless steel, glass or ceramic for various reasons. Dirty bowls, or water that has drool in it, may not meet a pooch’s standards and they’ll refuse to drink. The same is true for the water, with some pups preferring filtered water over tap, or even bottled water. If your dog seems put off by their normal water, try changing the water or the bowl, or even the location to see if it encourages your dog to drink. 

Another option is an indoor water fountain which constantly flows and cleans the water, or even a fun game with the hose or sprinkler outside may entice them. Keep water bowls clean, and always be sure your dog has access to fresh water, whether that means placing them near them or in a variety of spots. 

On the go? Try out different brands of bottles water and travel water bowls to see what your pup likes best. Water bottles with bowls built into the tops are also good choices for quick hydration!

We may not think too much about whether our pups are getting enough water to keep them healthy, and early warning signs of dehydration can be subtle. Monitoring water intake can provide important information on whether your fur baby needs some coaxing by using these or other enticements.

Got more questions about your dog’s water intake? Chat with a veterinary professional today to get the lowdown on canine hydration.