Water is the primary component of healthy, living cells of the body. Without water, your Maltipoo’s body will not function properly. More specifically, your Maltipoo will dehydrate. This can occur if your Maltipoo is not getting enough water, which is why you have to clean and refill your dog’s water bowl daily.
Also, you need to be aware of when your Maltipoo is drinking more water than usual, because this could be a sign of illness. By the way, how much water should a Maltipoo drink a day? Find out whether your Maltipoo is drinking enough water or more water than usual.
How Much Water Should a Dog Drink a Day?
Apparently, there are some ways to estimate how much water a dog drinks a day. And, this tends to vary due to individual circumstances. Generally, a dog should drink about 1 ounce of water (1/8 of a cup) per pound of body weight each day. But, there are lots of factors that can affect how much your dog will drink, thus you should not be restricting your dog’s water intake. Unless directed by your veterinarian, it is not necessary to measure out the exact water amounts your pet drinks. Just ensure that your dog has lots of fresh and clean water every day.
Maltipoo puppies are more active and thus drink more water than adult Maltipoo dogs. The requirement of the water for the dogs depends on their body weight. A Maltipoo dog weighing around 10 pounds will drink a cup of clean water in a day. Also, really active and lactating dogs need more water. Adult Maltipoo dogs do not need much water, particularly if they are not active throughout the day. If your Maltipoo dog drinks more water than usual, it can be a sign of several diseases.
Why a Dog Might Drink Less Water than Usual
Here are some common reasons why a dog might be drinking less water than usual:
- Your dog is eating wet food/ homemade diet
The dogs that are fed wet food or a homemade diet will receive moisture through their food, because these are about 65-80% water. You would notice that your dog drinks less than when eating just dry kibble. - Your dog may be sick
If your dog is sick from another underlying cause, or has mobility or pain problems, they also might not drink the amount of water they need. For this case, you are able to talk with your veterinarian to find out why your dog is not drinking enough water. - Your dog is hot or exercising
Depending on the temperature and also the amount of exercise your dog does, more water may be necessary. It is because water is lost with excessive panting and salivation.
Why Does a Dog Drink Extra Water?
The activity level, weather and diet determine how much water your dog will drink in a day. If you notice that your Maltipoo is drinking more water than usual, it is time to visit the veterinarian. A veterinarian will determine the root cause of the issue after doing some tests. Occasionally, it can be difficult to determine if your dog is drinking extra water, because it can do this after getting overheated or eating dry food. But, if your dog is urinating excessively, it means that your dog is suffering from polydipsia.
Here are some reasons that can lead to the excessive thirst for your dog:
Dehydration
Dehydration is a common cause of drinking extra water. Also, dehydration is a cause of some diseases. It will become life-threatening fast, thus if you see your dog being dehydrated, you have to go to the veterinarian right away.
When your dog is dehydrated, you do not give excessive water, because too much drinking water, too fast can lead the dog to vomit. If your dog is mildly dehydrated but is not vomiting, you are able to give it small amounts of water. It is a good idea to give one teaspoon for a small dog and 1-2 tablespoons for an adult dog after every 10 minutes for several hours.
Kidney disease
Senior dogs are able to experience acute kidney failure. This is a sudden failure of the kidney due to ingesting a toxin or trauma. Also, dogs can suffer from chronic kidney diseases. Usually, this disease develops slowly and is harder to spot.
Several of the causes of kidney disease are:
- Infection
- Kidney stones
- Dental disease
- Cancer
Aside from medical illness, kidney diseases can also be caused by heredity. If this condition is unchecked, your Maltipoo will suffer from severe pain, and of course it can become life-threatening for it. Thus, you have to take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible who will prescribe several medications after conducting some tests.
Urinary tract infections
Also, excessive thirst and urination is a sign of urinary tract infections. This is a common disease in adult dogs as they lose control of their bladder with the advancing age. Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria and can affect some dogs more than others. Many infections of the urinary tract, like bladder disease and stones. These infections especially affect the bladder, urethra and kidneys.
Several of the symptoms of Urinary tract infections are:
- Increased urination
- Blood in urine
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Difficulty urinating
If you notice that your dog is suffering from UTI, you have to take your dog to the veterinarian. A veterinarian will conduct several tests and prescribe proper medications. This disease should not be left unchecked as it can cause more serious medical conditions. For your information, UTI is treated with antibiotics.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the body is unable to use natural insulin. If your dog is suffering from this disease, you have to take your dog to the veterinarian because it can lead to a more serious medical condition.
Several of the symptoms of diabetes mellitus are:
- Excessive urination
- Increased thirst
- Change in appetite
- Weight loss or gain
Usually, adult dogs are more prone to diabetes mellitus. A veterinarian will provide you with a complete treatment plan which includes medication and insulin injections.
