At the end of the day, does your dog’s water bowl remain the same? Do you feel as if you never found her drinking?
Water is an essential nutrient. You know that when you work for a long time and forget to drink water, you may have a headache, you may have digestive problems, and even eventually urinary problems.
Dogs also need water for all physical processes. They should get fresh, clean water at all times, Even if they have a toilet accident in your home. Rather than let your dog suffer from kidney stones or urinary tract infections, find a way to get your dog to go out more, find an indoor potty solution or clear a few puddles.
So how are you actually Let your dog drink more water?
Flavor your dog’s water-10 ways
- Bone broth. It is sold in pet stores, can be made in a pressure cooker, or for human consumption. It should be free of onions and added salt. It is expensive, but you can freeze it in an ice cube tray and add an ice cube to a glass of water to get a cheap flavor enhancer.
- Yogurt or kefir. Vegan, no sugar added. They do contain lactose, but live enzymes make them easier to digest.
- Raw goat’s milk. You can find this kind of frozen food in some pet specialty stores, but it is difficult to find. Powdered goat milk Is the next best thing.
- Honest kitchen powdered drinks. They used to have pumpkin spice latte and eggnog mixture, but I think they have been discontinued.They do have Other mixed drinks A jar can be used for a long time, depending on how much you dilute.
- Smoothies. Dogs like smoothiess, they can also be frozen into cubes as a convenient water-enhancing agent.
- tea. Tea is rich in antioxidants, which help fight cancer and other diseases. Most herbal or green teas are fine, but be sure to check the ingredients and ask your veterinarian if your dog is taking medication or has a chronic disease.
- 100% Apple juice. Even if no sugar is added, apple juice contains natural sugar and should be consumed in moderation. Dilute with the same amount or more of water. No grape juice, Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs.
- Baby food puree. Succulent baby food can be diluted into a delicious drink.
- Sardines or tuna in water. You can drain the canned fish in the water to get a delicious water additive. You only need a small amount and make sure it does not contain salt.
- Dehydrated liver treatment. Any dehydrated food can be soaked in water to make a delicious broth. Soaking dry foods in warm water can also make them more aromatic and have a higher training value.
How much water does my dog actually need?
Dogs need about 0.5-1 ounces of water per pound of body weight per day. For a 30-pound cow, this is 1.8-3.75 cups.
Remember, your dog does not need to drink a certain amount of water every day. They can also get a lot of water from food.
Generally speaking, animals do not often go to streams to drink water. They usually get most of their water from food. Since wild animals tend to eat plants or meat with up to 90% moisture, they do not need to drink too much water.
Therefore, it is understandable that a dog that only eats kibble is not suitable for drinking enough water to make up for the water that is not in the food.
Give your dog water in their food
Kibble foods were originally designed to be rehydrated, and all kibble foods can be moisturized before consumption.
You can float your dog’s food in water and let it sit for a few minutes to make a “gravy”, or you can actually dip it in a paste, which can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 72 hours.
Moist kibbles will not clean your dog’s teeth, but dry kibbles will not clean your teeth well, so you need to brush your teeth anyway.
I wrote an article about Add water to the dog’s dry food And why it is beneficial and different methods.
You can also feed your dog a high-water diet. A raw or home-cooked diet, even with only 50/50 coarse ground food, can help keep your dog hydrated.
You can buy pre-made raw or cooked dog food and use the Honest Kitchen base mix.
you can also Add fresh food to your dog’s existing dietJust make sure that it does not exceed 15-20% of their diet so that it will not disrupt the nutritional balance in their kibble food. Kibble is high in carbohydrates, so you don’t want to add rice or starchy vegetables to it-add meat, fish, or eggs whenever possible.
Give your dog fresh, clean water
No matter what drinks you provide to dogs and what food they eat at meals, they should always have access to fresh, clean water.
Ideally, you should clean and refill the water bowl at least once a day. I often forget, but there are 2 water bowls in my one-bedroom apartment, so I think it helps.
Your dog’s water bowl should be large. The larger the bowl, the thinner the bacteria. Small bowls get dirty faster.
At the very least, you should clean your dog’s water bowl frequently to prevent them from forming biofilms. Biofilm is a sticky, slimy group of bacteria that is difficult to remove.
Use stainless steel or stoneware bowls. Over time, the plastic bowl will produce tiny scratches, and bacteria can hide in it. bad!
Wash it with hot soapy water or throw it into the dishwasher, not only to clean the water bowl, but also to disinfect the water bowl.
Dental additives help keep your dog clean, and it can even help keep their water clean.
More water bowls, please!
Your dog should have at least one water bowl in every room they frequent. They shouldn’t leave the sofa to drink water and walk all the way to the kitchen. Just like us, they may be a little lazy about drinking water!
You may also notice that your dog prefers certain bowls to others. If they wear a collar badge, they may not like the sound of their badge hitting a steel bowl.