Tool
Dog water intake calculator
How much water a dog of this weight usually drinks a day — and when it’s too much.
How this works
Two widely used rules of thumb give similar answers. The AKC, citing Cornell University, puts normal intake at around 40–60 ml per kg of body weight a day. PetMD’s simpler rule is about 1 ounce per pound a day (roughly 65 ml per kg). We show the range from both.
Real needs vary with the weather, exercise, diet (dogs on wet food drink less from the bowl), pregnancy and nursing. A dog drinking more than about 100 ml per kg a day is generally considered to be drinking excessively — and even a smaller jump from your dog’s usual amount is worth a call to your vet, because increased thirst can be an early sign of conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Keep fresh water available at all times. To measure, fill the bowl from a measuring jug in the morning and see what’s left 24 hours later.