How to keep your dog hydrated in Miami’s summer months

It’s HOT out and we need to make sure our dogs are hydrating enough during Miami’s summer months. The general rule of thumb is that should drink 1 ounce of water per one pound of body weight. Puppies, nursing dogs, dogs with thicker coats, and pups who are very active will drink more. Some medical conditions also cause dogs to drink more water.

Here are some tips for keeping your dogs hydrated throughout the day. We are extra careful with hydration during our dog walks, but hydration is something we must always be on top of as responsible pet parents. 

1. Have clean water available at all times (in the right size)

Make sure your pups have fresh, clean water bowls available all day. Avoid plastic and use ceramic or steel water bowls to make cleanup easier and avoid bacteria. Plastic bowls can get damaged and grow bacteria. Large pups need bigger bowls (and need extra refills).

2. Have many water bowls available

Have a water bowl in every room your pup hangs out and in the backyard, too (kept in shade). Don’t make it tough for them to access water, especially if they’re seniors or puppies. Be sure to refresh them often.

3. Use frozen treats or feed wet food

If your pup doesn’t like drinking water (we know a couple!), freeze some delicious Brutus bone broth, make fun frozen treats with dog-friendly fruits, or offer them ice. Sometimes they want something novel and tasty. You can also ensure your dogs are getting enough water by feeding them wet food, either alone or with kibble.

4. Keep an eye on their water intake

As it gets hotter, it makes sense for them to drink more. This is also true for very active dogs. Please keep an eye out for excessive drinking (which can mean old age, but also other medical concerns), and also for dehydration (sluggishness, thick saliva, brick red gums, high pulse rate). Talk to your veterinarian ASAP if you see these changes. 

5. Always take water on walks and during exercise

Our dog walkers carry collapsible water bowls and cool water on their walks, and you should too! Make sure to take many water breaks with your pups. If they are exercising heavily, serve them small amounts of water at a time while they cool down to avoid bloat.

These are some of the bowls and water bottles we and some of our dog walking clients have used on their walks. Full transparency, these are affiliate links to Amazon, but our clients and fellow pet parents have used and loved them. 

• Collapsible silicon bowl
• Collapsible fabric bowl 
• Water bottle with holder 
• Insulated Kong dog water bottle

Take these tips to heart every day with your dogs, and keep an eye out for the signs of heat stress and heat stroke. We are our dogs’ protectors and need to learn all we can about keeping them safe during Miami’s hottest months. Please share any tips you use for keeping your pets safely hydrated and out of harm’s way.

Equipaws Pet Services