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How often should Huskies drink water? Well, how often a husky should drink water depends entirely on the husky in question.
A husky who is extremely active and runs mile after mile every day is going to need a lot more water and will need to drink more often than a husky that goes for an evening stroll and then settles down to watch a Netflix movie with the family!
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How much water should Huskies drink?
Puppies
Most experts agree that young puppies in the process of weaning, depending on their size, need about ¼ cup to ½ cup of water every two hours. Maybe more if you picked the runt of the litter. Older puppies, about three months of age and up, need between ½ ounce to 1 ounce of water for every pound they weigh per day.
Since huskies are a medium to large breed, it would be safe to say that 1 ounce of water for every pound could be the standard. So, for example, a 30-pound husky puppy should drink 30 ounces or about 3.75 cups of water every day.
Adults
The same rule of thumb holds true for adult huskies. They need about ½ ounce to 1 ounce of water for every pound they weigh. So an active 60-pound husky would need 60 ounces or 7.5 cups of water every day.
Why huskies might drink excessively
Huskies may drink too much, especially after a vigorous run or a long walk, in an attempt to cool themselves off. Drinking too much water too fast could cause the dog to vomit or choke.
If your husky is the type to overindulge, it may be best to just put a little bit of water in the bowl at a time and refill as needed. For example, let your dog drink ¼ of the bowl, then make them wait a few minutes before adding some more water. We don’t want them drinking too much too fast!
Husky dehydration
Dogs can easily become dehydrated. It is especially easy for dogs to become dehydrated when they are playing or exercising extremely hard or when the weather is especially hot.
When exercising in hot weather, it is even easier for dogs to become dehydrated, and they will need to drink even more water throughout the day. Signs of dehydration include:
- dry nose
- dry, pale, sticky gums
- eyes sunken in
- lethargy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- loss of skin elasticity
In regards to the last sign, the loss of skin elasticity, there is a fairly easy test you can do yourself at home with your dog to see if they are dehydrated. Simply use your fingers to pinch and lift some skin on the back of their neck and watch what the skin does.
If the skin quickly falls right back into place, your dog is sufficiently hydrated. If the skin lingers in that same position despite you no longer holding it, forms a tent-like appearance, and slowly falls down, your dog is likely dehydrated.
Signs of your Husky drinking too much water
Though less common than dehydration, it is possible for dogs to drink too much water and become seriously ill from it. Typically, this doesn’t happen from the dog just drinking water but from other water-based activities.
For example, when swimming, diving, or water-retrieving, dogs can easily take in too much water and experience something called water intoxication. This can also happen just from your dog biting at the water coming out of the bathtub faucet or out of the garden hose.
Water intoxication causes hyponatremia, a condition where the sodium levels on the outside of cells in the body become seriously depleted. This leads to an influx of fluid inside the cells, which, in organs like the brain, can lead to serious issues. Signs of water intoxication include:
- Lethargy
- Bloating
- Vomiting
- Pale gums
- Loss of coordination
- Glazed eyes
- Dilated pupils
Why Huskies may not drink enough
Some dogs have a tendency to not drink enough water throughout the day. Some may just be having a lazy day and don’t feel like getting up to get a drink of water, while others may be having so much fun playing outside that they forget they need to get a drink of water.
Some dogs simply aren’t good at remembering to drink their water. Sometimes we, as their humans, have to help them out.
When and how often to offer water to your Husky
The best thing we can do for our dogs is to have several water bowls kept full of fresh water throughout the house. Dogs appreciate fresh cool water just as much as we do!
Most dogs are good about knowing when to drink and how much water to drink to stay hydrated. While other dogs may have more pressing matters on their minds (like daydreaming about chasing that squirrel in the backyard!).
These dogs may just need a gentle reminder a couple of times throughout the day by calling them over to their water bowl and praising them if they drink some water.
How to get your Husky to drink more water if they don’t drink enough
If you are worried your husky may not be drinking enough water, there are some things you can do to try to help increase their water intake.
- The easiest thing you can do is add some water to their food. In fact, this is a great way to get them to eat more food if they aren’t eating enough food either!
- Additionally, you could try giving your dog some ice chips as treats or a bigger ice cube to chew on. This will help them get at least a little bit of water and maybe even wet their tongue enough to make them realize that they are thirsty after all!
- Your could also invest in a dog water fountain. The flowing water piques their interest and encourages/reminds them to drink more water.
We recommend the Drinkwell 2-Gallon Dog Drinking Fountain.
Final takeaways about how often should Huskies drink water
A hydrated husky is a happy husky! Huskies should have access to fresh, clean water at all times so they can keep themselves plenty hydrated.
Some may need a reminder every once in a while to get the necessary amount of water in a day, but most do a great job of self-regulating.
How often does your Husky drink water?
Share your experience in the comment section below.
Must read: Best Dog Bowls for Huskies
