How much water does a dog need when they are eating home cooked meals?

Question

I feed based on the 1/3 ratio of cooked fresh meat and cartilage, veggies and starches.

I feed whole grains i.e. brown rice, teff and tubers like potato (with skin) and carrots. They are cooked prior to eating usually by steaming.

He eats fresh and cooked veggies and fruits with a handful of nuts.

He chews on beef bones and gets liver or other cooked meats for treats. He also takes a canine multi-vit and glucosamine supplement.

I know he is meeting his caloric requirements which can be hard because they change based on his work load. He is trim without fat, well muscled, bright eyes and shiny coat.

He used to drink 3- 5 bowls of water a day eating dry kibble and now he is only drinking 1- 1.5 bowls. Is this a normal decrease in water needs based on water already in the food?

Yes, feeding human food has the consequence of the dog gaining weight if you continue to feed dog food. Timber hasn't seen dog food in 8 months. I travel and camp a lot and sometimes to places where I won't be able to get dog food at all much less his brand.

I don't have children and I do cook for my dog everyday. I eat meals that are very close to what he eats. So it is simpler. For instance in the mornings I cook potatoes and eggs for us and then I change the portion (he eats more then me) and add an apple/ berries/ etc for each of us plus something green and bob's your uncle.

I already know he is healthy and his vet has assessed his menu and said it is great for him. My own doctor and nutritionist have cleared it for me.

I was just surprised the only time he wants water is when he is working hard or at the park. I fill the water bowl at home in the morning and keep emptying it and replacing the water but it is barely touched.

Answer 1

Sounds like your dog is eating better than I do! Want to come cook for me?

Sounds like he is getting enough water to me. He'll drink if he's thirsty. Just make sure you keep fresh water available at all times.

Do you seriously cook for your dog every day? You must not have kids!

Answer 2

That's quite a big problem. When people start feeding their dogs "people food" it can become such a hassle to get them back to regular dog food. The dog refuses to eat his dog food because you're cooking him yummy people food! Dogs will hold out for days even sometimes just because they know if they don't eat it you will eventually feed them something that they want. You need to go but a good quality dog food (Iams, Science Diet, Hills, IVD) etc. and try putting some canned food on top to entice your pet to eat dog food. Do NOT give in and feed people food. They will hold out, but eventually when they are hungry they will eat they dog food and maybe eventually like it! But if you come to a point where the pet wont eat after a couple days try a little boiled hamburger on top (only if really needed and make sure to wait at least 2 full days of not eating. Since it's a chihuahua it probably won't eat much anyways. There stomachs are tiny. They would probably only eat about 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup per day anyways. And smaller dogs are sometimes finiky eaters so I wouldn't be too worried if it ever skipped a meal. I understand you need to get your pet to a healthy weight but feeding it people food is just most likely making issues worse because they are not getting all the nutrition that they need. Hope that helps some! Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Yes, the decrease is normal. There is more water cooked into the diet you are providing than dry kibble. You'd drink more in a day if you ate nothing but potato chips than if you ate nothing but ice cream, right?

Generally, if you keep water in the bowl at all times, dogs will self-regulate how much water they need.

Answer 4

The answercould be sodium related. Do you add any salt at all to the dogs diet? All processed dog food contains a small amount of salt which is essential for all animals. If you aren't giving any sodium at all, it may not trigger the dog to drink much water. Try adding a very small amount, like 1/2 teaspoon to the amount you would make for one day, then see if his water consumption increases.

Answer 5

Water is very important for all animals,, but since you are feeding him Human food,,, alot of the things you listed have alot of water in them when they are cooked. Just wondering,,, my vet has always told me to never feed my dog off the table. He said it could cause digestive problems,, make them gain too much weight,, and causes heart problems because of the cholstrol. Well hope this helps some !!

Answer 6

The decrease is normal, just make sure he always has fresh water available, and he'll know how much to drink.
Don't worry, excessive drinking can indicate problems, the opposite usually is OK, as long as he does drink some!

Answer 7

He knows how much water he needs. Just make sure there is an open supply of water at all times and you should be good:)

Answer 8

Just keep the water dish full. He knows when he is thirsty.