Making sure your pet is hydrated

When the hot summer months arrive, hydration is key for humans and pets alike. While humans can pour a glass of water whenever they need it, our pets rely on us to provide fresh, full bowls of water all the time.  Water is the single most important part of your pet’s diet, especially in the summer.

Did you know that many pets bodies are made up of 80% water?  That compares to 60% for humans and it reinforces how important water is to keeping your pet healthy. Dehydration can cause severe illness and even death, yet its very easy to prevent it in the first place.

To ensure your pet always have enough water, follow these simple tips:

• Fill the bowl everyday.  Make sure your pets water bowl is large enough for his daily needs and fill it at least once a day. If the bowl is inside in an air conditioned space, keeping it full and refilling once a day is enough.  However, if your dog’s bowl is outside, it may need filling more often just keep the water fresh. Drinking contaminated water is as dangerous as becoming dehydrated.
• Set alarms. If you are especially busy and find that it’s easy to lose track of time, set alarms to remind you when to refill the water bowl
• Give your pet a break. Make sure your pet has ample shady spaces to rest in, ideally where there’s also a breeze. And if you have an air conditioned home, allow them indoors to help keep their core body temperature normal and to get some relief.

What are the signs of dehydration in pets? The signs vary depending on the pet, but general signs to look for are:

• Panting
• Loss of appetite
• Dry nose
• Lethargy
• Skin that becomes dull and dry
• Dark urine

How do you know if your pet is drinking enough water each day?  Here are some guidelines to keep in mind:

Dogs: About an ounce of water for every pound of weight. So, a 20 lb dog should drink 20 oz of water daily.

Cats: Need about 4.5 oz of water for every 5 lbs of body weight. So, a 10 lb cat should drink about 9 oz of water each day. Because cats often are served wet food as an additional source of hydration, your cat may not reach that amount.

Small Pets: Rabbits typically need  1.5-5 oz of water each day for every 2 lbs of body weight.

Horses: An 1,100-pound horse who hasn’t been worked will drink 6-10 gallons of water a day.  In summer heat that could increase to 15 gallons. And work horses may require up to 18 gallons of water each day.

Chickens:  Full grown hens drink from 1-2 pints of water each day, depending on their environment.

Now that you know how much your pet will require daily during the hottest days of summer, be sure to offer him lots refreshing water each day.