Water

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by Mary Lily, Jul 6, 2017.

  1. Mary Lily

    Mary Lily Registered Users

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    How much water should I be giving my 11 week puppy each day? We limit it to about 1cup at feedings, so 3 cups a day. And no water after 7:00pm. Once she is totally house trained we will not limit it. She just seems so thirsty, but she still has accidents in the house.
     
  2. SwampDonkey

    SwampDonkey Registered Users

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    I never limit my pups water intake. Pups drink a lot and need access to fresh water. She seems thirsty because she probably is.
     
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  3. Jojo83

    Jojo83 Registered Users

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    Fresh water should be available at all times during the day, not just at mealtimes. The amount a pup drinks has very little to do with the speed of housetraining and more to do with the maturity of the bladder and frequency of trips to the garden for toilet breaks.
     
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  4. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Like @SwampDonkey I never limited water , always two bowls full in my home, even as pups . If you are feeding dry food , water is an absolute essential , and even more essential in warm weather . I never took my pups water up at night either.
     
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  5. AngelConradie

    AngelConradie Registered Users

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    I have found my Labs to be thirsty dogs in comparison to my other mixed breed pets - I don't limit the water intake at all, I just take my pups outside every hour at least.
     
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  6. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

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    Absolutely agree with the above; please don't limit her water intake. My latest puppy is a very heavy drinker compared to my other two, so they're all different in their needs. I couldn't leave water down with this puppy, because she would either throw the bowl around or, if it was too heavy, would dig the water out. So I would offer her water, under supervision, very regularly throughout the day. The other two had free access to water throughout the day and evening, and it was only when crated overnight that they couldn't get to it.

    You are asking for kidney problems if you limit her water, plus it's simply not kind to let her stay thirsty. Toilet training is not a reason to give her less to drink than her body needs - and she will limit that herself by only drinking as much as she feels necessary.
     
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  7. Mary Lily

    Mary Lily Registered Users

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    Thank you, I am filling her bowl now!
     
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  8. Samantha Jones

    Samantha Jones Registered Users

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    I also never limited Bailey's water - either as a pup or even now - in fact he has two bowls - one upstairs and one downstairs - so he has fresh water day and night. Glad you are filling the bowl :) Bailey luckily has never been a tipper of his bowl or a digger in his water bowl - he's just a messy drinker! Water everywhere at times :)
     
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  9. Atemas

    Atemas Registered Users

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    Perhaps here is the place for a question I've had for a while. I have 2 bowls of water inside and a bowl outside so both dogs have access to water whenever or wherever they are in the house during the day. Since a tiny pup I have picked up the bowl Red generally uses after 7.00pm and as she is in a crate at night, she doesn't have access to water until 6.00am the next day (Sky has 24hr access to water). As we always walk in the evening and Red is fed kibble treats, I let her have a little drink when we get home but that's it.

    Whilst in a crate at night (I don't anticipate decrating her yet) should she have access to water until her bed time?
     
  10. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Never limit the water given to young pups, especially if they are on dried food. Young pups can very quickly become dehydrated.

    After six months of age their water can be taken up at night, but I don't bother. Once they can hold their wee they can hold it.

    .
     
  11. Samantha Jones

    Samantha Jones Registered Users

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    To be fair Bailey rarely, if ever, drinks during the night (noisy and messy drinker so I would know!) it is just a habit we got into when the weather got warm last year, and we've just got used to having the bowl upstairs. Bailey is also put upstairs when we go out so the water being there is handy. It is changed several times a day, and always at bedtime and in the morning.
     
  12. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Yes :)

    .
     
  13. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

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    Tatze is funny, she's always had a bowl of water in her crate. If she wants a drink she asks to go in there for it, she won't share the pup's bowl - ever the princess! :rolleyes:


    .
     
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  14. Atemas

    Atemas Registered Users

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    Thank you @Boogie - will leave the bowl down now :)
     
  15. KariK

    KariK Registered Users

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    Have a 2 1/2 year old chocolate lab. We have been dealing with his back left cramping up on him since January got into physio, put him on a diet and things seemed to be great. Now in the last week his right hind leg has starting cramping up. We are wondering if it's dehydration or maybe lack of a nutrient. Magnisium? he is also not drinking much so wonder if it's dehydration. Any advice of cramping and how to get my pup to drink more would be greatly appreciated.
     
  16. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

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    Sorry, I have no advice on cramping, other than to have a word with your vet, but, to encourage your dog to drink more, you could add a couple of flakes of tuna to his water bowl, or make some very weak, unsalted, chicken broth.
     

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