There are many different factors that affect the water intake of a dog so it is always wise to provide free access to water all times so that the animal can regulate its consumption as needed. A general rule of thumb is that an animal needs to consume 2.5 times the amount of water, as its daily intake of food. If an animal eats 400g of dry food it should consume 1L of water. Factors such as heat and exercise or lactation can increase the requirement two or three times above normal. A little extra water consumption never hurts. Animals that eat canned foods get most of their moisture from the food and may drink much less than an animal on dry food.
Few golden rules -
1. Dogs need water to sustain and must be fed fresh water at least 3 times a day.
2. More water needs to be provided when your dog eats more of dry food. Water requirement is not as much for raw or canned food.
3. Dogs prefer cold water. The temperature of water needs to be decided according to weather, amount of exercise, degree of exercise, age and how much your dog's kidneys can hold.
4. Snow as a substitute for water can be dangerous. You can give homemade ice cubes as treats if your dog likes frozen water.
5. During housebreaking put down the water bowl for about 10 minutes and give about 3-4 hours and take your puppy out. Give your puppy water about 3 hours before bedtime.
6. Pay attention to how much water your dog drinks. If your dog drinks unusually more or less than it normal volume of water, it can be signs of being unwell.
7. Do not allow your dog to drink large amounts of water after physical activity or exercise to avoid water intoxication.
No comments:
Post a Comment