- Joined
- Mar 16, 2022
- Messages
- 101
Bobby has never been a big fan of plain water unless he's just come in from a brisk walk (more or less depending on the outside temperature), just had a cheek or collagen chew stick, I've added something tasty to the water, or I'm holding the bowl for him (which is a drag). I check his scruff for dehydration, and he never is, but if left to his own devices, he's probably only getting 2-2.5 cups of water a day (this includes the water in his food, assuming that raw/fresh-cooked is 75-90% water). The conventional recommendation for a 65lb dog would be at least 4 cups per day. Should I be supplementing his water intake? Or is it that the conventional recommendations are for kibble-fed dogs and raw/fresh-cooked/healthier dogs don't need as much water overall (including that which is in their water-heavy food)? I don't want to over-water him (this comes from a woman who has killed multiple succulents ?), but of course, I don't want to under-water him either, especially now that it's getting warmer. If I don't give him extra water, his pee is distinct yellow (not necessarily dark) and has a distinct pee odor. When I supplement with additional water, it goes light yellow and less odorous. It also seems as if he often gets dry mouth when he sleeps, because we will hear him smacking his mouth when he wakes from naps and sometimes in the middle of the night (he's done this since we adopted him; he might be doing this less since we upgraded his diet, but he still does it to the point where I'm asking if it's normal). Also, if I give him extra water (aiming for that 4 cups total, including water in food) then he pees in the morning. If I don't, he doesn't. BEAM is great. We also changed his water bowl (in case his own reflection was bothering him), but we're not sure if that made a difference or not.
Any thoughts? Not so much concerned about any acute issue, just what is optimal. Thanks!
Any thoughts? Not so much concerned about any acute issue, just what is optimal. Thanks!
