Here’s How Much Water Your Dog Should Drink in a Day, According to Experts

Most of us are well aware by now of the importance of staying hydrated — in fact, it’s not uncommon to see a motivational message on our actual water bottles, encouraging us to “Keep chugging!” and “Never give up” for the sake of achieving our recommended daily intake. But with all their sizes, shapes, and energy levels, it’s not so easy to generalize how much H20 our dogs should be getting. Exactly how much should our pups be drinking?

Don’t stress; we’re here to make it easy for you to determine how much water your dog should drink in a day. That way, you can ensure they’re staying hydrated, recognize when they’re drinking too much, and know how to encourage more avid drinking.

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How much water should your dog drink in a day?

Though it may seem like a dog’s body composition is 90 percent fur, water actually makes up 60 to 75 percent of their body mass. It’s necessary for nearly every bodily function, from digesting food to regulating body temperature (and much more). Needless to say, it’s important for your pup to drink plenty of water.

Although every dog is different in their hydration needs, in general, dogs need around one ounce of water per pound of body weight every day. Keep in mind that, pound-for-pound, an always-on-the-go Border Collie, for instance, will likely lap more than the purse-warmer Chihuahua. Age matters, too; puppies will probably slurp more water than a golden-years senior dog.