DogHealth1.com

 A recent question prompted me to want to share this with you if you are concerned about how much water your pet drinks.  Here is my answer:

Question:   I have a Weimaraner dog, he’s 100lbs. He’s a big dog though, bigger than normal, not overweight, and drinks four full water bowls a day (about 128 oz) He also has been eating a lot.

We give him three cups of food in the morning and three at night, and he’s been eating our other dogs food, and our cat’s food, he’s been eating uncontrollably. Are we feeding him enough, or is there an underlying problem. Does this warrant a visit to the vet? 

Teri’s Answer: 

For Great Danes, St. Bernard’s, Mastiffs or any dog over 75 pounds, 5 to 8 cups of dry food a day is normal for that size dog.

So if you’re feeding him 6 cups try adding 2 more cups and round it off at this amount:   4 and 4 and give him 8 cups total…and no more. 

I would also give him raw beef bones - you get them at the butcher, and they will keep him satisfied for hours - they also have the bone marrow and nutrients that are good for your dog.  

I would also look at the nutritional value of the dog food you are using, the less expensive ones do not have the right nutrition and a dog will eat more to try and get the nutrients it needs. Try a better quality organic or natural dog food, and compare the vitamin content of the food you are using. 

Or, if you Mix Dry with Canned Food:

Use: 2 cans, plus 2 1/2 to 5 1/4 cups of dry mixed. 

Your dog weighs almost as much as a human, and we should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day, although most people do not drink that much.

I would do 2 feedings not all at once, and that spreads the food over the day which will help to avoid diabetic spikes with blood sugar problems later in life. 

Enjoy your dog.Water? Lots, put plenty of bowls of water especially in the summer months, put them outside and inside, or dehydration will occur.

never am too concerned about how much my dog drinks, actually I don’t think she drinks enough water.  With water the more the better, it flushes out toxins and helps other processes that need water by your dog’s body.

If you feel the dog is drinking lots and lots of water, it may be a sign of diabetes. The thing is …is he peeing it out? 

I would do these things first before going to the vet, unless there is a history or concern for diabetes but I doubt it.

In my Q and A Series once per week will give you a chance to send in your questions.  Email me at:  doghealthone@yahoo.com

with your questions - please be patient I will answer all of them.

Written By:  Teri Salvador