Most dog love a good sunny day, but the sun can tire our pals out quickly.
We all know most dogs love to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, but sometimes our pals can forget to take care of themselves. It is important to monitor your dog and make sure they are drinking enough water, but how much water is the right amount for a dog and how can we encourage our dogs to drink more?
Petmd says as a rule of thumb dogs should drink one ounce of water for every pound of weight, therefore an 80 lb. dog should drink about 80 ounces of water a day.
Almost 80% of a dog’s body is made of water so it’s important for us to make sure we keep our companions hydrated. Be sure to carry extra water with you if planning a long walk or a long stay at the park and try to keep your dog out of direct sunlight for extended periods of time as too much sun can lead to heat exhaustion.
One thing that will encourage your dog to drink more is making sure fresh water is readily available. No one wants to drink from a dirty bowl! Clean your dogs water bowls often and consider using more than one bowl. Use an anti bacterial soap to prevent bacteria and other harmful substances being ingested by your dog.
Another thing that can help your dog stay hydrated is adding a small amount of water into their dry food. Kibble is often dehydrated which means it will absorb water easily. To make sure the water is not being absorbed from your dog’s body, mix in a little water to partially re hydrate the food.
Be sure to take extra water with you to go. Having extra bottles can make the difference on a hot sunny day.
Follow these steps and your dog should stay happy and hydrated, just be careful when it’s extra sunny outside!
