How Long Can a Dog Go Without Water?
Today we’re here to answer the question “How long can a dog go without water?”. Several factors impact whether or not your dog drinks, but luckily they’re not all serious and the chances are high that you can encourage them to drink with a little gentle persuasion.
How Long Can a Dog Survive Without Water?
There is no one singular answer to this question because it all depends on the individual dog and the situation. Typically speaking, veterinary professionals suggest that dogs can go for up to 72 hours without drinking before they reach a critical condition — and possibly even die if they are not treated. However, some may start to deteriorate much sooner than that.
Your dog’s general health, age, the time it last ate, and even temperature can all play an enormous part in determining how long your dog can go without taking in adequate hydration. The fact that a dog can go for between 24 – 72 hours without water doesn’t however mean that negative effects won’t arise sooner.
Where possible, your dog should be taking in water regularly throughout the day, at least every 4 or so hours. You shouldn’t hesitate to seek medical assistance if you can’t encourage your dog to drink after 24 hours.
Reasons for Dehydration in Dogs
Rather than typing the question “How long dog can a dog go without drinking water?” into Google, you should instead focus on the reasons why it happens.
The primary reasons why it occurs are:
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Anxiety/stress
- They don’t have access to water
- They have a serious underlying medical condition
Tips How to Prevent Dehydration in Dogs
We’ll now give you some useful tips to help you to keep your dog hydrated.
- Use well-hydrated food types
Giving your dog moisture-rich food can be a great way to ensure that they stay adequately hydrated when they’re struggling to drink.
- Expand their water access
Bring some water along for your furry friends on a walk so that they’ve got access to water at a time when they’re likely to want it the most.
- Ensure their bowl is replenished regularly
Make sure that your dog’s water is as fresh as possible. Some dogs also won’t drink from a bowl that’s running low.
- Keep their salt intake down
Avoid salty food types at all costs as they can accelerate dehydration rapidly.
- Seek medical advice
If your dog is displaying obvious signs of discomfort and illness and hasn’t had a drink for 24 hours or more, you should immediately seek veterinary advice.
Conclusion
After reading through today’s post we hope that you now feel completely at ease about recognizing the signs of dehydration in your dog and how to overcome it. If you’ve tried the above tips and they haven’t helped to alleviate the issue for 24 hours or more, immediately consult with a veterinarian.