How much water should a dog drink a day?
Enter your dog's weight to see the typical daily water intake in cups or mL. Add what your dog actually drank in 24 hours to check it against the thresholds vets use for drinking too much or too little.
Tim de JongOptional. Measure what goes into the bowl and subtract what's left a day later.
Typical water per day
3.4–5.1cups
That's 27 to 40 fl oz (798 to 1,197 mL). More in hot weather or after exercise, less on a wet-food diet.
- Too much above
- 7.7 cups
- Normal range
- 1.5–5.4 cups
- Your dog drank
- not entered
18.1 kg × 44 to 66 mL = 798 to 1,197 mL a day. Polydipsia: over 100 mL × 18.1 kg = 1,814 mL (7.7 cups).
For healthy adult dogs in mild weather. A dog that suddenly drinks a lot more or a lot less than usual should see a vet, whatever the numbers say.
How much water does a dog need a day?
The Merck Veterinary Manual puts the daily water need of most mammals, dogs included, at about 44 to 66 mL per kilogram of body weight in a comfortable temperature. In US units that is roughly 0.67 to 1.01 fluid ounces per pound. The AKC gives a very similar figure of 40 to 60 mL per kg.
Water per day = weight in kg × 44 to 66 mL
Worked example: a 40 lb dog weighs 18.1 kg, so it needs about 800 to 1,200 mL a day, which is 3.4 to 5.1 cups. That includes the water in its food, which matters a lot for dogs on wet food.
Dog water intake chart by weight
| Dog weight | Typical per day | Too much: over |
|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 0.4 to 0.6 cups (100 to 150 mL) | 1 cup (230 mL) |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 0.8 to 1.3 cups (200 to 300 mL) | 1.9 cups (450 mL) |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 1.7 to 2.5 cups (400 to 600 mL) | 3.8 cups (910 mL) |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 2.5 to 3.8 cups (600 to 900 mL) | 5.8 cups (1,360 mL) |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 3.4 to 5.1 cups (800 to 1,200 mL) | 7.7 cups (1,810 mL) |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 4.2 to 6.3 cups (1,000 to 1,500 mL) | 9.6 cups (2,270 mL) |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 5.1 to 7.6 cups (1,200 to 1,800 mL) | 11.5 cups (2,720 mL) |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 6.7 to 10.1 cups (1,600 to 2,390 mL) | 15.3 cups (3,630 mL) |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 8.4 to 12.7 cups (2,000 to 2,990 mL) | 19.2 cups (4,540 mL) |
How much water is too much for a dog?
Vets call excessive drinking polydipsia. Brian Collins, DVM, of Cornell University's Riney Canine Health Center, told the AKC that it is generally considered when a dog drinks more than 100 mL per kg of body weight a day. Davies Veterinary Specialists give the same line and note that textbooks put normal intake at 20 to 70 mL/kg.
The threshold isn't the whole story. Davies points out that some dogs drink noticeably more than usual while staying under 100 mL/kg, so a clear change in your own dog matters even if the number looks fine. Causes of increased drinking include kidney disease, diabetes, liver disease, overactive adrenal or thyroid glands, high blood calcium, kidney infection, a womb infection (pyometra) in unspayed females and some poisons. None of these can be ruled out at home, which is why persistent extra thirst always needs a vet.
How to measure your dog's water intake
Measuring is only worth doing if you suspect a change, but it gives your vet hard numbers. Over 24 hours:
- Pick up any extra bowls so your dog drinks from one place.
- Fill that bowl with a measured amount from a jug, and note every top-up.
- After 24 hours, measure what is left and subtract it from the total you put in.
- Repeat for a second day if you can, and enter the result in the calculator.
Spills, a second dog sharing the bowl and drinks from puddles or ponds will throw the number off, so keep those in mind.
What changes how much a dog drinks?
Davies Veterinary Specialists note marked differences between individual dogs, and name the water in food and the water lost through activity and panting as major influences. Food matters here: the Merck Veterinary Manual puts canned food at 68 to 78% water and dry food at about 10%. A dog on mostly wet food can get a large share of its water from its meals and drink less from the bowl. If you feed both, the wet and dry food calculator helps keep the calories steady while the mix changes.
When is drinking too little a problem?
Intake under about 20 mL per kg a day is below the normal range. For a dog on wet food that can be normal. A dog that stops drinking, or drinks less while vomiting or having diarrhea, can lose more water than it takes in, so call your vet. If your dog has just had an operation, our article on what to do when a dog won't drink after dental surgery covers that case.
Frequently asked questions
How much water should a 50 lb dog drink a day?
About 4.2 to 6.3 cups (1,000 to 1,500 mL) in mild weather, based on 44 to 66 mL per kg of body weight. Regularly drinking more than about 9.6 cups (2,270 mL) a day is above the 100 mL per kg line vets use for excessive thirst.
Is it normal for a dog to drink a lot after exercise?
Yes. Water lost through activity and panting is one of the biggest influences on how much a dog drinks, so a big drink after a run or on a hot day is expected. What deserves a vet's attention is a dog that drinks more than usual day after day, without a reason like that.
Why is my dog suddenly drinking so much water?
Short-term causes include heat, exercise and a change from wet to dry food. If it lasts, possible medical causes include kidney or liver disease, diabetes, overactive adrenal or thyroid glands, high blood calcium, a womb infection in unspayed females and some poisonings. Measure the intake for a day or two and take the numbers to your vet.
How many cups of water does a small dog need?
A 10 lb (4.5 kg) dog typically needs about 0.8 to 1.3 cups of water a day. Small dogs drink small amounts, so a single big bowl can hide changes; a measuring jug makes it easier to see if intake rises.
Sources
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