How to Get Your Dog to Drink More Water (and When Not To)
By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD ·
Most dogs need about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day, though diet, weather, and activity change that number. If your dog is healthy and just under-drinking, you can usually fix it with fresh water, better bowl placement, and a few simple tricks. If your dog suddenly drinks far more than usual, that is a medical question, not a training one.
This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.
Quick Answer
- A rough daily target for a healthy dog is 0.5 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight, with more in hot weather or after hard exercise.
- Dogs lose water mainly through panting, so heat and humidity raise their needs fast [1].
- Fresh, cool water in clean bowls, placed where your dog already hangs out, solves most mild under-drinking.
- Water added to food, ice cubes in the bowl, and multiple water stations all increase intake safely [1].
- A sudden, sustained jump in drinking is a red flag for diabetes, kidney disease, or Cushing's and needs a vet visit.
How Much Water Should Your Dog Drink?
There is no single official number, but most healthy adult dogs land near 0.5 to 1 ounce per pound per day. A 40-pound dog often drinks somewhere between 20 and 40 ounces. That includes water from food, so a dog on canned food may drink less from the bowl and still be fine.
Dogs do not sweat the way people do. They cool themselves by panting, and the more they pant, the more water they lose [1]. A dog who pants heavily on a July afternoon can need noticeably more water than the same dog needs in January.
Puppies, nursing mothers, working dogs, and dogs on dry food only tend to sit at the higher end. Senior dogs and couch potatoes often sit lower. The trend matters more than any single day. A dog who drinks the same amount every day is probably fine. A dog whose intake doubles and stays there is not.
If you want to track this properly, measure how much you pour and how much is left after 24 hours. Do it for three or four days to get a baseline. That number is what your veterinarian will want to know.
How to Get My Dog to Drink More Water: Step by Step
Step 1: Rule out simple problems first
Check the bowl. Water that has been sitting out for a day picks up dust, drool, and hair. Many dogs refuse it. Wash bowls daily with hot water and soap, and refill at least once a day [1]. If you leave for work in the morning, make cleaning and refilling the bowl part of your leaving routine [1].
Check the location. A bowl next to a noisy washing machine, in a high-traffic hallway, or right beside the food bowl can be unappealing. Some dogs prefer not to drink where they eat. Try a quiet corner.
Check the water itself. Some dogs dislike the taste of heavily chlorinated tap water. Offering filtered or bottled water for a few days is a cheap test.
Step 2: Make water more appealing
- Add ice cubes to the bowl. This is a simple, refreshing option that many dogs enjoy [1].
- Float a few pieces of kibble or a spoonful of canned food in the water. The flavor often gets a picky dog started.
- Switch to a wider, shallower bowl. Deep narrow bowls press against some dogs' whiskers and muzzles.
- Try a pet fountain. Moving water draws many dogs in.
- Offer water in more than one place. Multiple dishes help a dog who is reluctant to cross the house or who shares space with another pet [1].
- Add water directly to meals. A few tablespoons over dry kibble softens it and adds moisture.
Step 3: Use play and movement
A short game of fetch or a brisk walk raises body temperature and thirst. Offer water right after. Many dogs will drink then who ignore a bowl all afternoon.
Step 4: Watch the weather
During hot, humid stretches, dogs struggle to regulate their temperature. Offer cool fresh water, provide shade, and bring your dog inside when you can. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for them [1]. Heat stroke can happen in any month but is most common in hot, humid weather, and it is an emergency. If you suspect it, seek veterinary care immediately [1].
Step 5: Recheck hydration
You can check hydration at home by looking at the gums and doing a gentle skin test. Learn the technique here: How to Check Your Dog's Hydration at Home. Sticky gums, a skin tent that stays up, or sunken eyes mean you should call your vet.
Daily Water Checklist and Setup Table
| Item | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Water bowl | Wash daily, refill at least once a day | Stale, dirty water gets refused [1] |
| Bowl type | Wide, shallow, ceramic or stainless | Comfortable for flat-faced and whisker-sensitive dogs |
| Number of stations | Two or more in a large home | Guarantees easy access [1] |
| Location | Quiet spot, away from food and litter | Reduces competition and stress |
| Water temperature | Cool, with ice cubes in warm weather | Encourages drinking and helps cooling [1] |
| Food moisture | Add water or broth to kibble | Raises total water intake |
| Outdoor time | Shade plus a water bowl outside | Panting loses water fast [1] |
| Monitoring | Measure bowl intake for 3 to 4 days | Gives your vet a real baseline |
Signs Something Is Wrong
Too little water
Mild dehydration shows up as tacky gums, loss of skin elasticity, and lethargy. A dog who stops drinking entirely, vomits, has diarrhea, or refuses food for more than a day needs same-day veterinary attention. If your dog has stopped eating but keeps drinking, that pattern has its own causes and its own urgency: Dog Not Eating but Drinking Water: What to Do.
If your dog simply will not drink, read Dog Not Drinking Water: Causes and How to Encourage Hydration for a fuller list of causes.
Too much water
This is the part most owners miss. A dog who suddenly drinks and urinates far more than usual is showing a classic symptom pattern. The three conditions veterinarians think of first are diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and Cushing's syndrome. All three change how the body handles water, and all three need blood work and a urine test to sort out.
Heart disease is another reason water balance can shift. Dogs with congestive heart failure can have higher levels of antidiuretic hormone, which promotes water retention and can push electrolyte concentrations down [2]. That is a disease process, not a drinking habit, and it needs a veterinarian.
If your dog's thirst has climbed and stayed up, start here: Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water?. For help deciding how soon to call, see Dog Drinking More Water Than Usual: When to See the Vet.
How to stop my dog from drinking too much water
You cannot and should not restrict water to fix this. Limiting water in a dog with diabetes or kidney disease can cause serious harm. The correct move is a veterinary visit with a measured water intake log. Your vet will decide whether testing is needed and what treatment fits.
One thing you can control is treats. Foods and treats with added sodium and certain amino acids and osmolytes increase total water intake, at least in cats, where this has been studied directly [3]. The same principle is worth considering in dogs. If you recently switched to a saltier treat or a new food, that alone can raise drinking.
Common Mistakes Owners Make
- Restricting water to stop accidents. This is dangerous. It does not treat the cause and can dehydrate a sick dog.
- Assuming a dog who drinks a lot is just "a thirsty dog." A sudden change in thirst is a symptom.
- Leaving one bowl in one spot. Multiple bowls and easy access matter, especially in hot weather [1].
- Skipping bowl cleaning. A slimy bowl is a bowl many dogs will not use [1].
- Forcing water with a syringe. Unless your veterinarian has shown you how and given you a volume, do not do this. It risks choking and aspiration.
- Ignoring panting as water loss. Every pant is water leaving the body [1].
- Changing diets without telling your vet. Moisture content and sodium in food change water intake.
Supplies and Setup That Actually Matter
You do not need much. A stainless steel or ceramic bowl, a bottle brush, and a second bowl for another room covers most homes. A pet fountain helps some dogs. A kitchen scale is useful if you want to weigh food and track moisture.
If your dog is on a prescription diet for heart, kidney, or urinary disease, do not add water, broth, or treats without asking your vet first. Sodium and fluid balance are part of the treatment plan.
For dogs who are recovering from illness or surgery, your veterinarian may recommend specific fluid amounts. Follow those instructions exactly. Do not guess at a volume.
Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian
This article cannot tell you what is wrong with your individual dog. Every case needs a veterinarian who can examine your dog, ask about the timeline, and run tests.
Call your veterinarian the same day if your dog:
- Drinks noticeably more or less than usual for more than 24 to 48 hours
- Has sticky or dry gums, or skin that stays tented when you pinch it
- Vomits, has diarrhea, or refuses food
- Is lethargic, weak, or unsteady
- Is urinating much more often, or having accidents indoors
Go to an emergency clinic now if your dog:
- Collapses, has a seizure, or cannot stand
- Breathes fast or hard in hot weather, or has a body temperature you cannot cool with shade and water [1]
- Has been without water for a full day
- Shows a swollen, painful belly or cannot urinate
Schedule a routine visit if your dog:
- Has had slowly rising thirst over weeks
- Has started drinking more at night
- Has new weight loss or weight gain alongside the thirst change
Bring your water intake log. It speeds up the visit and helps your vet decide which tests to run.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my dog is dehydrated?
Gently lift the skin between the shoulder blades. If it snaps back quickly, hydration is likely okay. If it stays tented, or if the gums feel tacky instead of slick, your dog may be dehydrated. Call your veterinarian instead of trying to fix it at home.
Is it safe to add broth or flavoring to my dog's water?
Plain, unsalted broth in small amounts is usually fine for a healthy dog. Avoid anything with onion, garlic, xylitol, or added salt. If your dog has heart or kidney disease, ask your vet before adding anything to the water.
Why does my dog drink more at night?
Some dogs drink more at night simply because they are resting and finally notice thirst. In others, it reflects a real change in thirst regulation. If nighttime drinking is new and paired with more urination, book a vet visit.
Can I give my dog too much water?
Yes, though it is uncommon in healthy dogs drinking at will. Drinking large volumes quickly can dilute blood sodium and cause serious neurologic signs. This is one more reason not to force water or restrict it on your own.
Do wet foods help with hydration?
Yes. Canned and moist foods contain far more water than dry kibble, and dietary moisture is a major driver of total water intake. If your dog is a poor drinker, ask your vet whether a wet or mixed diet makes sense for your dog's health needs.
Related Articles
- Why Is My Dog Drinking So Much Water?
- Dog Drinking More Water Than Usual: When to See the Vet
- Dog Not Drinking Water: Causes and How to Encourage Hydration
- Dog Not Eating but Drinking Water: What to Do
- How to Check Your Dog's Hydration at Home
- Why Is My Dog Peeing So Much?
References
- Keeping Your Pets Hydrated. Pet Poison Helpline.
- Antidiuretic hormone concentrations in dogs with heart disease and relationship to serum chloride. Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology, 2025.
- Consuming treats with amino acids, osmolytes and sodium increased total water intake and decreased urine specific gravity of healthy cats. Journal of feline medicine and surgery, 2026.