Did you know your dog's body is made up of mostly water?! Similarly to humans, about 60-70% of your dog’s body is water. This is why it's important to ensure that your dog is properly hydrated.  Dogs can sustain life without food for upwards of 7 days, however, without water, they can only survive as little as 3 days. 

Comparable to humans, being properly hydrated helps your dog maintain a normal body temperature. However, unlike humans, dogs only sweat through their paws and use panting along with a moist tongue, as a way of cooling off their furry bodies. 

Sustaining a normal body temperature is crucial for the proper function of your dog’s vital organs. Keeping your pup hydrated ensures all of their moving parts are correctly functioning, reducing the risk of contracting any illnesses and allowing them to be as healthy as possible.

Once your dog's body takes in all of the necessary nutrients from food, it creates waste. Water allows your dog to take that waste and expel it from their body through urination and bowel movements. Without water, any waste particles would sit inside of your dog's body, allowing bacteria to grow and potentially cause illness or disease. Water also allows for the secretion of digestive enzymes, which will properly break down food and enable the rest of the digestive system to function at peak efficiency. 

Drinking an ample amount of water will empower your dog to run around freely without risking injury or pain. This is because water is essential for mobility. It cushions and lubricates all of your dog’s joints so they can be happy and playful pups.

These are just a few, of the many, ways water and hydration can affect your dog’s body. It is amazing how one resource can play such a critical role in almost every single bodily function of your dog. This is why it is crucial to make sure your dog is always properly hydrated.

There are a ton of effortless and fun ways to help ensure your dog is getting enough hydration when it’s extremely hot out. 

The first and most important thing you can do as a pet parent is to always give your pup access to fresh, clean, and filtered water. Your dog’s body will tell them that it needs water way before you may ever notice, which is why they should constantly have access to fresh water. Many pet owners do not realize this, but providing your dog with filtered water can also help extend their life by promoting cell repair and growth.

Quick tip: Wash your dog’s water bowl at least once per day. Standing water can grow bacteria, so keeping their bowl clean helps protect them from any bacterial illness a dirty water bowl may be carrying. 

In addition to providing your pet with fresh water, you can give your dog with treats that contain a high water content. Fresh fruits and vegetables such as watermelon (without the seeds), cantaloupe, celery, and cucumbers all have a water content of over 90% making them a great, hydrating treat choice for those hot summer days.

There are also many simple treats you can create for your dog to boost their health and hydration even more. Below are two extremely hydrating treats I make for my dogs that you can make too.

To make a sweet, hydrating treat for your dog, all you will need is a dog treat mold or ice tray, doggy-safe fruits, unsweetened coconut water, and Sunday’s air-dried raw dog food to add extra flavor and health benefits.

First, you will grab your doggy-safe fruit and cut it into small pieces, and put a few into each mold. I like to use blueberries and strawberries. 

Next, add some broken-up pieces of Sundays’ to each mold with the fruit.

Benefits: Sundays’ is an excellent option because it is a balanced air-dried raw food that will add flavor and a crunchy texture. Sundays’ also contains human-grade, nutrient dense ingredients such as liver, pumpkin, heart, and more which all promote good health.

Next, you will just fill each mold with unsweetened coconut water. Make sure your coconut water is unsweetened to avoid unnecessary sugars and flavorings.

Benefits: Coconut water is full of electrolytes and nutrients, making it extremely hydrating for your pup.

For a more savory treat, you opt for bone broth instead of coconut water. When choosing a bone broth, you want to make sure it does not contain any added salt or onions. Homemade bone broth is the best option, but if you don’t have time to make your own, you can purchase a bone broth specifically formulated for dogs.

Benefits: Bone broth promotes good digestion, helps maintain a healthy gut and will help support your dog’s hips and joints. 

Finally, after each mold is filled, just pop them into the freezer for a few hours and you’re good to go. Give a couple of these sweet treats to your dog each day for a fun and tasty way to keep them hydrated!

This post was written by Kayla Kowalski, a Certified Canine Nutritionist (CertCN) who has guided over 3,500 pet parents through custom diet guides. Kayla says, "I’m here to take away any confusion and ensure your pets' nutrition is appropriately optimized!" If you want to learn more about how a dog’s diet plays a role in their health and how it affects their bodies, go to KaylaKowalski.com.