Is Your Dog Drinking Enough Water? Hydration Tips for Fresh Food Diets

Proper hydration is often an overlooked aspect of your pet’s well-being, particularly in comparison to diet. Dog hydration also depends on factors such as the time of year, age, life stage, and activity level. In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how to ensure that your furry pal is taking in enough water. 

You have to be careful here, though, as dogs can also obtain hydration through their food, at least to some extent. We’ll break it all down for you below to help you keep your furry friend healthy with a shiny coat. 

How to Figure Out Your Dog’s Hydration Needs

If your dog is thirsty, it will definitely find a way to let you know. However, it’s not just about meeting the basic demand by leaving enough water for dogs throughout the house. It’s making sure that your dog is getting just the right amount of hydration, and that differs from one pet to another. 

You can find some hints within the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards, as water is listed as a crucial nutrient there. In general, an intake of 1 ounce of water per pound of your dog’s body weight should meet their daily demands. Still, it can depend on a variety of other factors:

• Your dog’s age and life stage

• Overall activity level during the day

• Health status 

• Diet type

• Temperature 

As you can probably tell, it’s usually a combination of all these factors that tells you how much water your dog needs.

For instance, dogs living in a more humid environment with higher ambient temperature and a warmer climate in general require more water. 

Why Water Matters in a Fresh Food Diet

It’s no wonder that fresh food and water intake are interconnected terms, considering how much more water fresh food contains compared to dry kibble and processed foods. Kibble typically contains between 3% and 10% water content, while semi-moist foods follow closely behind.

Canned foods may contain over 60% water, but fresh food still contains the most, with nearly 80% of its composition being water. 

Therefore, depending on your dog’s dietary type, you may need to adjust their water intake accordingly. If your dog is on a fresh food diet, which includes slow-cooked meals like Pawy’s, you’ll likely be looking at lower intake demand. On the contrary, pets fed dry kibble usually need to drink more water during the day.

Dog Hydration Tips for Fresh Food Diets

If you’re dealing with a dog not drinking enough water, there are some steps you could take to prevent dehydration and the loss of a shiny coat. Here’s what you can do:

1. Add Food Into Daily Hydration Calculations

If you’re feeding your pet fresh dog food like meal plans prepared at Pawy, you’ll be one step closer to ensuring a well-balanced diet and hydration. Our home-cooked-style meals are rich in nutrients and contain no preservatives or antibiotics. 

Because of that, you can rest assured that your dog is getting enough water throughout the day. Sure, proper hydration in between meals is just as important. Still, it’s crucial to consider the estimated water intake from each fresh meal when determining how much water to make available to your pet.

2. Check for Signs of Dehydration

When properly hydrated, your dog will be its usual self, displaying an alert demeanour with regular energy levels and moist gums and nose.

The coat should be shiny, and the skin should display proper elasticity, which is a good sign of health. On the other hand, if your dog lacks water, it might display the following signs:

• Decreased energy levels and activity

• Dry skin, coat, and gums

• Lower appetite than usual 

• Lower skin elasticity

• Excessive panting

If it seems as if your dog can’t catch a breath, that’s a sign of insufficient water intake. One thing to note here is that some breeds display more prominent panting than others in general, so that’s another thing to account for.

3. Make Water Easily Accessible 

One of the best ways to ensure your dog stays hydrated is by making water easily accessible. You should place fresh water bowls throughout the darker corners of your home, especially during the hot summer months.

If you own a multi-story home, make sure there are several bowls of water on every floor. Ensure that their water is changed at least twice a day to keep it fresh and healthy. It’s also easy for bacteria to develop in the bowl, so thoroughly washing it at least once or twice a day is also crucial.

Finally, your dog may have preferences regarding the type of bowl material. You can experiment with different types to see what works for your pet.

4. Bump-up Fresh Food Hydration

Using fresh food with up to 80% water content, sourced from seasonal fruits and vegetables, is essential for keeping your pet hydrated. You can even feed them pet-safe broths, which don’t include any salt, garlic, or onions to entice their water-drinking habits.

If you switch to a fresh food service like Pawy, you can get food rich in water content delivered to your doorstep. Still, even in such cases, it’s crucial to ensure that your pet is also consuming water in its pure form, not just from food ingredients. 

5. Make Seasonal Adjustments

Lastly, consider seasonal variations in water intake. For instance, your dog needs less water during the colder winter months when compared to hot summer days. That’s why it’s so important to gradually switch to a higher or a lower water content in food, depending on the time of the year.

In the summer, most dogs require more water due to the harsh and warm temperatures. Regular monitoring should suffice here, as you can observe how often your dog drinks from the bowl during the day and adjust the diet accordingly.

Final Take

Ultimately, a lack of proper hydration might even signal the onset of an illness. To prevent such unwanted scenarios, it’s critical to monitor your pet's water consumption level throughout different seasons. 

Make all the necessary adjustments and consider seasonal differences. For instance, you should leave water in bowls placed in shaded areas throughout your home during hot summer days. In the winter, you can reduce the amount of water content in fresh food and increase the protein intake.