Water is vital to your Staffy’s health, the same as it is for yours. You do not want your Staffy to dehydrate, that’s for sure.
But how much water should a Staffy drink each day? That’s the question we’ll answer in this article. We’ll also cover how often your Staffy should drink, how to see if your Staffy is dehydrated, should you limit the amount of water your Staffy drinks, and what it might mean if your Staffy starts drinking a lot more than usual.
How Much Water Should a Staffy Drink Each Day?
Every Staffy will be different, but typically, a good guideline for a healthy Staffy is roughly 30-50ml of water per kilo of body weight every day. However, external factors will also dictate how much a Staffy needs to drink. For example, on scorching days or immediately after exercise, your Staffy will drink more water than during the rest of the day.
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Have a plentiful supply of fresh, clean water available at all times. I wouldn’t say it’s essential to measure the amount of water precisely. Dogs will drink what they need themselves as long as they have access to water at all times.
How Often Should a Staffy Drink?
Staffies, the same as all dogs, will drink when they are thirsty. For this reason, it’s essential always to have clean water available.
Over time Staffies will develop their own routine, and you’ll know when they need more water. Other factors might come into play around your Staffy’s drinking habits. For example, my dog dislikes his water to be warm on hot days. He prefers freshwater that’s cold from the fridge. He also enjoys crunching ice cubes on sweltering days. However, I’m careful not to give him large cubes.
Another thing he’s not happy about is saliva in the water leftover from when he drank previously. I’m constantly switching water when I see him sitting by his water bowl even though there’s water in there, yet he’s not drinking.
Why is My Staffy Drinking So Much Water?
If your Staffy appears to be drinking excessive water and you have excluded all the obvious reasons, you should take your dog along to your vet.
If there’s excessive drinking, then your Staffy will almost certainly be urinating a lot more. Certain health conditions can begin with these symptoms.
Your vet can determine if anything is going on with your Staffy’s health that is a cause for concern through blood and urine tests.
Your vet might also ask you to measure the amount of water your Staffy drinks each day to establish if the amount is excessive.
If your vet finds nothing wrong and your Staffy is just over-drinking, you might need to buy a “no-gulp” water bowl. These bowls can restrict how much your Staffy takes with each lick. Bloating is a common problem with Staffies over drinking.
Have you switched your Staffy’s food recently? Perhaps you have gone from wet food to kibble? Very often, a change in diet can induce different drinking habits.
Should I Limit My Staffy’s Water?
Under normal circumstances, you should never restrict your Staffy’s water supply. As mentioned, water is crucial to a Staffy’s health and condition. Your Staffy might need more water than usual because of the heat or from exercising.
The only circumstances where I would restrict my dog’s water intake would be under instructions from the vet and if it was to measure the amount of water accurately. The “no-gulp” bowl doesn’t restrict water as such; it only reduces the amount per gulp.
How to See if A Staffy is Dehydrated
Dehydration is serious and shouldn’t be taken lightly because it’s potentially life-threatening for your dog. Dehydration occurs when your Staffy does not drink enough water and electrolytes.
Is My Staffy Dehydrated?
There are some specific signs you can look for if you suspect your Staffy might be dehydrated, and these include:
- Loss of skin elasticity
- A passive state
- Eyes look sunken
- Bodily weakness
- The dog collapses
- Dry or sticky gums
Test Your Staffy For Dehydration
- Take a little skin between your Staffy’s shoulder blades in your finger and thumb.
- Pull the skin up and release.
- How does the skin go back in place? Does it snap back immediately? If so, your dog is hydrated; however, if it remains up on its own and returns very slowly, your Staffy is dehydrated.
If you suspect your Staffy is dehydrated, make an appointment to go and see the vet as soon as possible. It’s essential to find out what’s going on with your Staffy.
Conclusion
How To Avoid Dehydration In Your Staffy
- Ensure your Staffy has access to fresh, clean water at all times.
- Regularly check your Staffy’s water bowl.
- Thoroughly clean your Staffy’s bowl every day. A dirty bowl can put some dogs off drinking.
- On hikes or long walks, take a bottle of water with you for your Staffy.
- Avoid heavy exercise in sweltering weather.
- Never leave your Staffy alone, locked in the car.
