How do I get my dog to drink more water?


by Dr. Wendy A Shiao, VMD
April 23, 2016

Quick Tips

8 ways to encourage your dog to drink more water:

There are many reasons why a dog might not drink enough water. If he is on a dry food diet, his water requirement will be much higher than you might realize. Dehydration, even if mild, can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening kidney and other problems later in life. The good news is that there are a number of effective ways to encourage dogs to drink more water. These 8 are a good place to start!


1. Filter the Drinking Water



In my household, even the plants get filtered water! Humans and dogs, too, should be getting filtered water to drink. Good quality filters remove most of the chlorine and other chemical and mineral contaminants from the tap water, even if you live somewhere that you would think should have water that's safe to drink right out of the tap.

It is true that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the safety of tap water, and as a result Americans are blessed with safer water than many places in the world. However, the Safe Drinking Water Act1 does not in fact prevent all contaminants from reaching your tap. It regulates what level of each contaminant it considers safe, and if any of those levels goes over the threshold the water company is required to notify the public. In multiple cities/towns I've lived in (suburbs of Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore), I have received notices in the mail from my water company listing the levels of various contaminants in the water. These notices are difficult to read or understand unless you have at least a trace of a scientific background. I imagine that most people just throw these away without reading them. I've actually read these, and saw that the levels of some of the contaminants listed do go over what EPA considers safe.

Moreover, even if the water was safe to drink when it left your community's water treatment facility, it can pick up contaminants as it travels through miles and miles of underground pipes before it reaches your tap. Depending on what materials the pipes are made of and how old they are, many chemicals and minerals can leach into the water before it enters your home.

Filtering water is even more important for dogs on a dry kibble diet because they need to drink a lot more water than dogs who get some water from wet food, so the impurities in their drinking water will accumulate in their bodies much faster. Even if they're not eating dry dog food, if they can taste the chlorine and other chemicals in the water they will drink less water. So now, on top of getting the chemicals in what water, they're not getting enough water.

When I switched from tap water to filtered water for my pets, I immediately saw an increase in the amount of water they drank. Rather than taking my word for it, you can try it for yourself and see if you notice a difference. Though I did not measure my pets' water consumption, they were emptying their bowls faster than they did before, to the point where my husband mistakenly thought I'd been forgetting to fill the pets' water bowls when he saw them empty.


2. Try Different Types of Water Bowls



Water bowls made of certain materials such as plastic will impart a taste to the water they're holding. It might be too subtle for some dogs to notice or mind, but not for others. It is worth trying different types of bowls to see if your dog might prefer a different one than you're using now. A good quality stainless steel bowl doesn't affect the taste of the water and is a good one to try if you don't have one yet.

Glass bowls are another great option. However, they do present a breakage risk and might not work for households with small children, rambunctious dogs, or elderly family members who might not see the glass bowls on the ground and might trip over them. If you can find a safe spot for them, they could be perfect for some dogs. Look for ones made of thick glass which are sturdier and less likely to break than thinner glass bowls.

Ceramic bowls should work also, as long as you can make sure the glazing used is lead-free. More lead will leach into the water in the bowl the longer it's been sitting in there. Food-grade ceramic bowls or cups made for humans (not those made for decorative or other use) and made in the USA by a reputable manufacturer in recent years are most likely safe to use.2 Ceramic coffee mugs might be OK for some small dogs.


3. Try Different and/or More Locations



Placing multiple water bowls strategically all around your dog's living space can be very helpful, especially if you have a big or multi-leveled house or apartment. Or you might have an elderly dog with arthritis or other health issues that make it hard to walk far to find water.

Some dogs prefer water (and food) bowls that are placed higher off the floor so they don't need to bend down as much to reach the bowl. There are many stands and feeders designed for this purpose. Some are made to be an attractive piece furniture that you can work into your decor. Or you can find a simple step stool or bench that is the right height for your dog.

If you have multiple pets you might want to consider placing some of the water bowls in somewhat protected locations where your dogs can drink without worrying about being ambushed (playfully or not) by other pets. Tucking a bowl behind furniture or house plants might work.

Don't forget to leave a bowl of water outside too if your dog spends a lot of time out in the yard. Make sure it's kept clean and away from wildlife.


4. Change the Water Frequently



Your dog's water dishes should be washed and refilled with fresh water frequently. Dogs tend to slobber and get their water slimy very quickly after they take a drink. I wash my dog's water bowls at least two to three times a day in the winter and more often when it's warmer and he's more active and drinks more water.


5. Use Water Fountains



Many dogs, like their wild canid cousins, instinctively prefer drinking running water. In the wild it is typically safer to drink running water rather than stagnant water, because microorganisms tend to grow and thrive in standing water.

Several pet supply manufacturers make water fountains for pets. They run on electricity and have a motor that circulates water through a filter to clean the water. The motor does produce some amount of noise, so you'll have to determine if the noise level is something everyone in your household can tolerate.

I would personally go with either a stainless steel or lead-free ceramic water fountain, rather than a plastic one, even if the plastic is BPA free. The water fountain needs to be cleaned and its filter changed regularly. Depending on how many pets you have and how quickly the water gets dirty, you might need to change the filter every month or so. At least once a week, or more often if it gets slimy sooner, you will need to take the water fountain apart and washed all the pieces thoroughly.

This might seems like a lot of trouble, but if your dog loves the water fountain, it will be well worth effort!


6. Add Ice Cubes to the Water



There are some dogs that will drink more water if you add ice cubes to it, especially in the summertime. Dogs do not sweat the way humans do (other than a minimal amount of sweating that can theoretically happen through their paw pads). Even though they do have other ways of cooling off, such as panting and dilating their blood vessels, those methods are not always enough. As a result, dogs can overheat easily when it's hot and humid. Providing cold water for them to drink can help keep them cool, as well as keep them hydrated.

Another trick you can try is adding ice cubes to your dog's food. The ice water will pick up the flavor from the dog food and become more enticing.


7. Turn On the Faucet



Many dogs like to drink from the faucet, and some even learn to turn on the faucet themselves if you have the kind of handles they could manage. This could become a problem for obvious reasons, so you shouldn't train your dog to do this intentionally!

To reduce the amount of water wasted, leave the faucet dripping or running very slightly, and place a pail under the faucet to catch the water to use later, such as for watering your plants.

To further reduce water wastage, don't leave the faucet on all the time but make a routine of turning it on twice a day at the same time each day, for maybe five minutes. For example, every morning at 8 and every evening at 7. Some dogs will learn the schedule and go get the water at those times.

This is not a good idea, obviously, if you are a California resident in the middle of a drought or live somewhere else with severe water restrictions!


8. Give Them Chicken Broth or Tuna Water



Another thing you can try giving your dogs is chicken broth or tuna water either plain or poured over their food. This has the added benefit of providing additional nutrients in addition to increasing hydration. Many water-soluble nutrients from the chicken or tuna will end up in the water.

Keep in mind that the chicken broth or tuna water must be unsalted/unseasoned. Most commercial chicken broth you can buy has been heavily seasoned and contains far too much sodium for your dog. A much better option is to make your own broth by boiling chicken in water and removing some of the broth for your furry friends before you add seasoning to the pot to make chicken soup for the humans.


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References

1. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 1, 2004
2. Questions and Answers on Lead-Glazed Traditional Pottery, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, November 1, 2010