How Much Water Should A Puppy Drink?

While it may seem like dogs drink a lot of water, generally, canines only need about an ounce per pound of body weight, per day. But, it’s different for puppies that are growing. They need a lot more water than adult dogs, depending on their age, size, and how active they are.

In the very early stages of growth, dogs get their hydration from their mothers’ milk. As they are weaned and start eating actual dog food, you need to make sure that your puppy is getting an adequate amount of water each day. So, how much water should a puppy drink? Let’s see if your puppy is drinking enough water and why your dog may be thirsty.

Puppies Should Drink Half A Cup of Water Every Two Hours

As a general rule, you should make sure that younger puppies that have been weaned get about a half a cup of water every two hours or so. The water should be fresh, and not left sitting in their bowl all day. Keep an eye on puppies to make sure that they’re getting enough to drink, but also that they’re not drinking too much.

Older puppies should be drinking about one half to a full ounce of water per body pound of weight each day. So, a puppy that weighs 10 pounds should be drinking 5 to 10 ounces of water daily. If they are particularly active on some days, or it’s really hot outside, your dogs may require more. Of course, this may all change once you start house training puppies.

Why Do Puppies Need So Much Water?

Puppies need to stay hydrated, just as we do. Water helps metabolic processes in dogs, and is necessary for brain activity, blood flow, and even breathing. As water flows through a dog’s body, it helps remove toxins and delivers oxygen through the blood.

Water also helps regulate your puppy’s internal temperature, especially when the weather is hot. If you notice that your puppy is panting, it’s generally a sign that they need hydration right away. Panting in dogs is their form of sweating and it helps keep them cool, but at the same time, it causes water loss through the tongue.

Puppies Shouldn’t Have Water Before Bedtime

When you are house training a puppy, the rules about water consumption are going to change a bit. You still need to make sure that they’re getting plenty of water during the day. But, you don’t want them to have any water just before bedtime.

Make sure that water bowls are removed about two to three hours prior to bedtime, and that there is also isn’t any food left out. This will give you an opportunity to take your puppy out for one last pee before bedtime, and make it less likely that he will pee in the middle of the night.

Canine Hydration

At every stage of your dog’s life, he will need to have plenty of water, but not too much, as over-hydration can be just as harmful as dehydration. Puppies tend to need more water than adult dogs, because they are growing and are often a lot more active. Make sure that you give your puppy plenty of water throughout the day, and cut it off about three hours before bedtime to avoid accidents during the night.