A Dog Drinking Water On A Hot Summer Day Is Not Just Refreshing But A Necessity
There is nothing unusual about seeing a dog drinking water until you realize that dogs will drink just about anything if they can get to it. Dogs are like humans when it comes to drinking water. It is best if the water they ingest is fresh and clean. They also like cute little dog bowls to slurp from. Given a choice a dog will always drink water before any other liquid. And it is because of this that you must make sure that there is plenty of quality water available for your dog at all times. If your dog weighs 100 pounds then 70 of those pounds come from water!
Humans don’t need to eat every day or even every other day, but they do need to be able to drink water every few days or they won’t survive. The same holds true for dogs. How much water a dog needs is determined by the weather, physical activity, and the type of food that he eats. High temperatures and lots of physical exercise will have an effect on your dog and will cause dehydration. And dogs that are sitting or travelling in a car will also get very thirsty.
There is nothing wrong with your dog drinking lots of water, but if you start to notice a unusual increase in water intake you will need to consult with a vet. A dog wanting too much water may mean that he is exhibiting symptoms of diabetes or kidney trouble.
You should make it a habit of putting a clean bowl full of fresh water for your dog in the same area that they are used to eating. It is also important that your dog have water available at night just in case he gets thirsty.
When your dog travels away from home you must make sure that there is a water source available for when he gets thirsty. Have you ever seen a dog drinking water from a puddle on the street? They do that because their body is telling them that their system is not in balance and they need hydration. They will drink whatever is available.
Of course water that has arrived via a good rainstorm is acceptable, but is it really going to wind up in a clean bowl? You need to be very careful about letting your dog drink any water that you haven’t given to him. Outdoors there are all sorts of chemicals that wind up in water. Snow melting chemicals, weed killers and insecticides run off lawns and puddle up on the sidewalk or street. It would be a good idea to train your dog to drink only when you give him the water.
Most pet stores will carry storage devices for water that you can keep in your car. These come in handy when you are away from home and can’t find a clean water source for your dog. The only substitute for water that is acceptable for a dog is milk. While your dog won’t get sick from drinking milk, water really should be the drink of choice. Never give your dog any type of soda pop or fruit juices. These are just plain bad for your pet.
A dog drinking water on a hot day after a run around the backyard is a happy dog!