If you are bringing a new puppy into your home, then you probably have an abundance of questions. Something that you might have been wondering about is what the right amount of water is for your dog to have on a daily basis.
However, is it okay to leave water out all day for your puppy? Or is this something that you should avoid? There is no exact way that you should care for a puppy, but there are some things that you can keep in mind throughout the process.
If you want to ensure that you are giving your puppy the right amount of water, then you have come to the right place.
We are going to explain everything that you need to know about puppies and their water intake in this article, so you will know exactly what to do.
Should You Leave Water Out All Day for a Puppy?
Dogs are usually pretty good at knowing when they need water, and they are not going to drink it continually just because it is in front of them.
There are lots of experts that say that there is nothing wrong with leaving water out all day for your dog to drink from.
In fact, they believe that you should never leave your dog without any access to water, as this could easily lead to them becoming dehydrated.
You should leave water out at all times, but you should also remember to change the water in the bowl twice a day and to clean the water bowl on a daily basis.
Your Puppy’s Water Intake
The amount of water that your dog needs might change when they are going through house training, and it might be easier for you to remove your dog’s water bowl at night.
However, if this is something that you are going to do, you will need to remove the water at the same time every evening, so that the times are consistent.
If you want to do this while you are house training your dog, the general rule to keep in mind is to remove the water bowl around 2 hours before it is time for bed.
This will give your puppy the chance to go to the toilet before they go to bed and prevent them from needing the toilet soon after.
It is important to know that you should never restrict access to your dog’s water throughout the day, as this could lead to dehydration, which puppies are at a higher risk of.
Restricting their access to water all of the time can also lead to obsessive resource guarding behavior, so this is something that you should avoid doing.
Why Is It Important That Puppies Get Enough Water?
It is really important that your puppy is getting enough water as water is what facilitates the metabolic process, which includes everything from digestion to brain activity, blood flow, breathing, and more.
Water intake is responsible for clearing harmful toxins, transporting oxygen, regulating your puppy’s temperature, and more.
Signs That Your Puppy is Dehydrated
There are lots of symptoms that could indicate that your puppy is dehydrated, like lethargy, dry gums, sunken eyes, and more.
If your dog is displaying any of these signs, then they could be dehydrated. Another way to tell if this is the case would be to gently pinch their skin.
Normally, it will quickly bounce back into its normal position. However, if it moves slowly and takes a while, then your dog could be dangerously dehydrated.
You can also try pressing on their gums. Healthy gums will go from white to pink again in around 2 seconds. If it takes longer than this, then your dog could be dehydrated.
If you think that your dog could be dehydrated, then you should take them to see a vet as soon as you can.
Can My Puppy Drink Too Much Water?
Something that you might not have known is that it is possible for a dog to over-hydrate, which is referred to as water intoxication.
This is just as dangerous as dehydration, and it can be caused by them drinking too much. This can even happen accidentally through tasks like swimming or playing in water. Some of the signs of overhydration are:
- Lethargy
- Nausea
- Loss of coordination
- Staggering
- Bloating
- Dilated pupils
- Excessive salivation
- Vomiting
- Pale gums
If you think that your dog might be over-hydrated, then you should take them to see a vet. The fact that your puppy is drinking too much could also be a sign that they have an underlying health condition, which is why it is really important to get them checked out.
Monitoring your puppy’s water intake is really important, and this should be something that is part of your normal daily routine. Poor hydration or overhydration can lead to health risks.
