Husky puppies need a constant water supply as they will need to drink a lot to support their growth, but how much water should a husky puppy drink exactly?
Husky puppies need roughly 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day, but this can vary depending on many factors like the temperature, how active they are, and much more. Before a husky puppy is weaned, they get hydration from their mother’s milk.
The best way to make sure your husky puppy is drinking enough water is to make sure they have a constant supply of fresh water, as well as monitor them for any symptoms of dehydration or overhydration.
In this guide, I’ll explain how to check your husky puppy is drinking the right amount of water, the science behind why it’s essential, and much more.
Contents
Why Husky Puppies Need A Lot Of Water
Huskies are a highly active breed of dog, needing 2 hours of exercise per day when they are mature, so they have a higher water requirement than most other dogs from the get-go.
Puppies also need a constant supply of fresh water and can drink even more water per pound of body weight than their fully grown counterparts.
When you combine these two factors, it’s clear that husky puppies have a significant water demand.
Why Is Water Important For Husky Puppies?
Water is important not only for husky puppies but for all dogs.
As per True Care Veterinary Hospital, the purpose of water is to carry essential nutrients into and out of body cells. It also helps to regulate temperature, lubricates joints, improves cognitive function, and cushions the brain and spinal cord.
So yeah, water is just a little important for your husky puppy…
5 Factors That Affect How Much Water Your Husky Puppy Will Need
One ounce of water per pound of body weight per day is just a rough figure; the amount of water your husky puppy will drink varies depending on many factors.
1. Water Intake During Weaning
When a husky puppy starts weaning, they will need fresh water supply access. Before that, they will get their hydration from their mother’s milk.
2. Managing Husky Puppy Water Intake During Housetraining
When you start housetraining your husky, it’s common practice to remove their water an hour or two before bedtime and return it in the morning.
This is because puppies that drink at night will need to pee shortly after, and there’s a good chance you won’t be up to let them outside.
This results in messes inside, and it also makes it more difficult for your puppy to get their much-needed rest.
Housetraining typically starts between 8 and 16 weeks, when a husky puppy can go without water for roughly 8 hours and should be fine overnight.
Once your husky puppy has been housetrained, you can give them access to fresh water 24/7 if you prefer. Just keep in mind that it takes a long time for them to get control of their bladder, so up until nine months to a year, they will need to go outside shortly after drinking water in most cases.
3. Activity Level
Most husky puppies tend to be very active when they are awake – remember that they will sleep for anywhere from 14 to 22 hours per day, depending on how old they are.
More active pups will need more water as they lose water through panting.
4. Temperature
If you live in a hot climate like Texas or Florida, for example, expect your husky pup to need more water.
Hot temperatures mean your husky is going to pant much more than usual, which means they will lose more moisture via evaporation as they do so.
It’s a good idea to keep your husky out of intense sunlight or hot temperatures regardless of age to help prevent them from dehydration and other problems.
5. Type Of Food And Snacks They Are Eating
Another factor that plays a significant role in how much water your husky puppy will drink is the type of food and snacks they are having.
If you like to give your husky puppy snacks high in water, like watermelon, during the hot weather, they won’t need as much water from other sources.
This also relates to their regular food. If fed wet or dry food soaked with plenty of water, they won’t need as much water from other sources.
Why You Should Monitor How Much Water Your Husky Puppy Drinks
It’s important to check your husky puppy is drinking water because if they aren’t, it can quickly lead to dehydration.
When they first learn to drink, they can often not drink enough, so you should try to call them over to their water bowl and praise them if they drink some water.
Check how much they drink, and remember they should drink around 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight daily.
As well as monitoring their water intake, you should also follow a few best practices to keep their water clean and safe to drink.
Make Sure The Water Stays Clean
Keeping the water clean and fresh is essential, fully replacing it at least once per day or more as needed.
Tap water is acceptable to use in most places, but in some cases, it might not be suitable.
The best advice to follow here is only to offer tap water to your husky puppy if you would drink it yourself.
Keep Their Bowl Clean
Many people overlook cleaning the bowl when changing the water frequently, but it can become dirty and grow harmful bacteria if it isn’t cleaned and disinfected regularly.
You should clean their bowel at least once every week to make sure it stays clean and healthy for them to drink out of.
How To Check Your Husky Puppy Is Drinking Enough Water
It can be challenging to monitor how much your husky puppy is drinking to an exact level, especially if you have more than one puppy or dog using the same water bowl.
Most husky pups will regulate their water intake, so it can be easier to monitor your husky rather than their water bowl for signs of dehydration or overhydration to ensure they drink the right amount of water.
How To Check For Dehydration
Dehydration has a lot of warning signs.
The most common one to check is skin elasticity. To do this, gently pull up on the skin between your husky pup’s shoulders and then let go.
If they are hydrated properly, the skin should spring back into place instantly; if it takes longer to fall, they are probably dehydrated.
Other symptoms of dehydration are much more apparent:
- Loss of appetite
- Panting
- Dry Nose And/Or Gums
- Thick Saliva
For a complete list of the symptoms of dehydration in husky puppies, click here.
Take your husky to a veterinarian if you are concerned about them being dehydrated, as it can be severe, and some of these symptoms can also relate to other medical problems.
How To Check For Overhydration
Overhydration, also called water intoxication or water poisoning, is rare but can be a problem for your husky pup.
Luckily for us, this usually only happens if your husky has gone swimming, which isn’t very common to start with, and accidentally swallowed excessive water.
Symptoms include lethargy, bloating, vomiting, and many more that you can find here.
If you suspect your husky puppy is suffering from this condition, you must take them to an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible.
In Summary
Making sure your husky puppy is drinking enough water is very important.
Most of the time, they will regulate it themselves, but you should still be aware of the symptoms of dehydration and overhydration to be safe.
They should drink around 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day, but factors like temperature and energy levels can directly impact this.