How much water should my pet drink?
The Merck Veterinary Manual puts the daily water need of most mammals at about 44-66 ml per kilogram of body weight. This calculator starts from 55 ml for dogs and 50 ml for cats - a starting figure, not a prescription. Enter your pet's weight for a daily target - and what can push it up or down.
Always leave fresh, clean water available - this is a daily target, not a limit.
What changes it: wet food covers a big share of water needs, while heat, exercise, lactation and some medications push intake up. Slightly more than the estimate is usually fine; the bowl should never run dry.
How this works
- Start: the Merck Veterinary Manual puts the daily water need of most mammals at about 44-66 ml per kg of body weight; the calculator uses 55 ml for dogs and 50 ml for cats.
- Diet: canned food is 60% to more than 87% water (Merck), so the bowl target drops to about half on wet food and three quarters on a mix. Heat or exercise adds 20%.
What it leaves out:illness - drinking much more or much less than usual is a reason to see a vet, not to adjust the target - and the water your pet gets from treats and other food.
Sources: Merck Veterinary Manual, Nutritional requirements of small animals
A sudden change in drinking matters more than the exact number. Much more thirst than usual can signal diabetes, kidney disease or other issues; refusing water or signs of dehydration (tacky gums, skin that's slow to spring back, lethargy) need prompt veterinary attention.
Water gear
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