What Helped My Dog Recover (And Drink More Water!)

I’ve talked a lot about hydration in the context of heat and recovery over the past year, but I realized I haven’t shared much of my own strategies, especially what I’ve been doing lately with my senior dog Knoxx.

A couple months ago, Knoxx woke up lethargic, uninterested in food, and showing signs of stomach pain. Off to the ER we went, and after an ultrasound and bloodwork, the diagnosis came in: a flare-up of pancreatitis.

Knoxx had a small bout of pancreatitis nearly a decade ago, so I've always been super strict with his diet. This time, like before, there was no clear trigger. But the episode reminded me just how important hydration is, especially for aging dogs or dogs recovering from illness.

While he’s made a full recovery, I’ve been hyper-focused on keeping him hydrated. The truth is, Knoxx has never been great at drinking enough on his own. So over the years, I’ve had to get creative.

Tips to Keep Your Dog Well Hydrated

I thought I'd share a few of Knoxx's favorite hydration strategies that have worked really well for us. If your own dog has any medical concerns, however, be sure to check with your vet for appropriate hydration strategies. 

• The "Yogurt Float": I add a spoonful of plain, non fat, non-lactose yogurt to Knoxx's water. Simple and effective. He loves it!
• Blueberry Bobbing:I drop a few blueberries into his water bowl. He can’t resist fishing them out, and ends up drinking more in the process.
• Chicken Broth Water:Made from skinless, boiled chicken breasts. No salt, no additives, just a tasty, low-fat broth that encourages hydration.
• Sweet Potato Float: A spoonful of mashed sweet potato mixed into a bowl of water. It’s lightly sweet and super hydrating. (He actually had this a few minutes ago!)
• Blended Chicken Soup:This is Knoxx’s current favorite: skinless chicken breast, rice, peas, carrots, and sweet potato, all boiled in water and blended into a thick soup. He loves eating it while it's still warm. (I make a batch of it so it lasts a few days.)

How Much Water Does Your Dog Need?

I used to think that if my dog needed water and was thirsty, he would drink. When I started to actual monitor just how much Knoxx drank throughout the day, I realized it wasn't sufficient. So when left to his own devices, when keeping water out for him 24/7, he pretty much never drank enough without some kind of encouragement.

Just how much water does your dog need? A number of websites recommend 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. There are may factors, however, that can affect how much water your dog needs. I good rule of thumb is to check the color of your dog's urine. A light, "straw" yellow color or very light yellow can be a sign of good hydration. Darker urine, a more amber color or dark yellow, can indicate your dog needs more water. 

I found an article that has a nice description of what to look for to determine if your dog is getting sufficient water intake. If you'd like to learn more, you can read it HERE.

The best advice I have is to always monitor your dog's water intake and be aware of how much water they need to drink throughout the day to maintain an excellent level of hydration.  

– Erica Boling, PhD

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