Did you know that your dog can live three weeks without food but will die within days without water? Water is necessary for all digestive processes as well as temperature regulation, nutrient absorption, and as a transportation medium, shipping things between organs and out of the body.
How much water your dog needs depends on his physical activities and the type of food he eats. Panting is your dog’s way of sweating. If your dog is sweating, he needs a drink. Dry food also encourages thirst. Because dry food contains only 10 percent moisture, your dog will need about a quart of water for every pound of dry food.
On the other hand, canned food or home-cooked diets contain more water and require less to rinse and wash down. This quality of canned and home-cooked food does not necessarily make them a superior food source, however.
Water is vital for survival. Make sure clean water is always available for your dog. Provide clean water in a stainless steel dish and change it regularly. Keeping it off the ground in a dog bowl stand will also help to keep germs, pet hairs and floor bound dirt away. Each time you fill your dog’s bowl, rinse it to clean off dirt and other nasty particles that don’t belong in a fresh bowl.