Water balance is one of the most important concepts in nature. People during recent centuries invented many various drinks to maintain freshness in hot weather. Our dogs have higher blood heat, so they are not exceptions in the means of keeping the water balance.
Each chemical reaction in their bodies needs water. In addition, lack of water can cause different diseases, and make the life of our dear pets unbearable. Sometimes many dogs don’t feel like drinking enough water, so should invent a couple of creative ways to make him change his mind.
As a responsible dog keeper, you must create all the conditions for your dog to have 24/7 access to water. Besides, that’s you to make the process of water drinking more pleasant for your dearest.
How to prevent your dog from becoming dehydrated?
If you live in a city apartment or your yard is too small to fit the needs of your dog in space, you’ll often take him for a walk. Before going out, make sure that you have some bottles of water with you to cool and refresh your dog during outdoor activities and walking.
It’s important to know that your dog may not show any symptoms while the process of dehydration begins. At the further stages, the dehydration is approximately impossible to be stopped. So, let your dog drink it a bit or just pour some water all over his body, create a small rain. Many dogs don’t like being showered with the water during a walk. So, better turn this procedure into a funny game for both of you.
You might think your dog can get dehydrated only in summer. But that’s not true. Cold winters and inappropriate heating in your house when it’s cold outside can also cause dehydration. If you haven’t got a dog, but you’ve decided to get some, analyze the house where you live.
Is it comfortable and equipped enough for your future pet? Your dog will lay on the much, and the floor is where you’ll exactly put his water bowl. If the temperature of the water is too high, your dog won’t drink it, so use the bowls with a long stand if the floor is constantly being heated. So if it’s possible, choose the most suitable coverage.
Tiles are cold, so it’s nice to sleep on them in the hot summer days, but it might be not that pleasant to lie on them in winter. For that time, get a warm mat, especially if your dog is small and short-haired. Floor heating in winters will make you use some cooling mats for long-haired dogs, the same as the pulled carpet.
What if your dog doesn’t drink enough water?
Nowadays, the problem of dog obesity has become a real pain for dog keepers. Keeping the water balance will also help you keep your dog fit. Obese dogs get dehydrated more quickly, so they prefer to stay in the shade and move less in summers.
But don’t miss the chance to make your dog get more moisture if he doesn’t like drinking water via the new summer diet. If the food he usually eats is too dry, add some fresh vegetables or use DIY dog food recipes. In this way, your dog might eat the same portions, get hydrated, and lose weight at the same time.
New dog keepers can face a very difficult question in the beginning. Even those who have had dogs for the whole life might still have some concerns about this issue. How much water does my dog need to drink every day?
The most common formula says that every day your dog must drink as much as one ounce of water per every pound of body weight. So, if your Beauceron drinks less than your friend’s baby Pekingese, it should make you worry. The standard water intake in hot summer days might also depend on foods your dog prefers. The dogs that eat only dry food will need more water (a larger bowl), than the dogs that like moisturized types of food.
Shape matters
Our dogs have their own unique tempers. So, for many of those that don’t drink enough water, the shape of the bowl they drink from is even more important than the necessity to quench the thirst. Small and filled to the brim or large the bowls that are half-empty? Better ask your dog, in other words, provide as many variants as possible to find out which is more attractive for them.
Choose the bowl appropriate in size considering the formula above. Besides, make sure the amount of water you pour in it is right in amount depending on your dog’s needs. Don’t let the water get stagnant, change it frequently. The shape and design of the pet accessories must be interesting and attractive for your dog.
Many dog keepers suggest to take your cutie for shopping and let him/her choose the bowl for themselves. If your dog is a bit fizgig and changes her mind too quickly, you can change the bowl as soon as you notice she’s got annoyed with the old one.
The quality of the water your dog drinks must be good. During the summer hot days, it should be refreshing and cool to reduce the heat. Sometimes it may be quite hard. Especially if you’re busy or spend the whole day out of home, and find it impossible to change the water for your dog on time, the most suitable solution for you will be a dog self-serve water fountain. It’s convenient and attractive.
Your dog will never get annoyed, as it’s always fun and the water is always fresh. Of course, you can also construct it yourself using the ideas for DIY dog water fountains. But the ready-made one is more suitable for the dog keepers who are not good at drilling and are looking for a stylish and comfortable accessory for their dogs. If you have a yard, you can also get the outdoor dog water fountain to motivate your dog to play outside the house more often.
