When to start giving puppies water

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

Contributions sourced from

When Do Puppies Start Drinking Water (& Eating Food)?

Newborn puppies get all the nutrition and hydration they need from their mothers milk. There will come a point in time though, when they no longer need milk and can start to drink water instead.

But what is the age when newborn puppies can start drinking water for the first time, and how do you introduce them to it? You can find below as I detail all you need to know in one handy and helpful guide.

When do puppies start drinking water? Newborn puppies start drinking water around the age of 3 to 4 weeks old. This is when they start to wean and gradually give up nursing from their mother. Puppies will also start eating food at this age too.

When do puppies start drinking water and eating food?

Despite what you might think, puppies do not start drinking water and eating food as soon as they are born. In fact, for the first few weeks of their lives, they rely solely on their mothers milk. This milk provides them with all the necessary nutrients and antibodies that are important for their development and growth.

Whilst you could think that giving a newborn puppy water and food might help them, the opposite is in fact true it is vitally important that puppies are not given water before this weaning period has passed. Newborn puppies will struggle to digest water as their digestive systems are still underdeveloped and wont be used to it.

If you do introduce puppies to drinking water before the right age, it could even lead todangerous complications so should be avoided at all costs.

And as already discussed, when to give puppies water for the first time is the 3 to 4-week mark; at least. By this point they can be weaned off the mothers milk and will be able to start drinking water and eating soft and suitable foods. They will also want to leave the whelping box and start exploring themselves.

After the 4-week point, you can then introduce your puppy to water and other forms of nourishment without worry. However, being successful in this can sometimes take a bit of persistence, as described below.

Handy Hint: Heres how long you can expect your newborn puppy to go without eating or drinking in the first 2 months of their life.

Can puppies drink water at 2 weeks?

Newborn puppies should not drink water at the age of 2 weeks. Not only does water not offer them any nutritional value at this young age, but 2 week old puppies might even get a little sick when drinking water.

This is my puppy at 8 weeks old by this age, drinking water is second nature to them.

How to get puppies to drink water for the first time?

Learning how to introduce puppies to drinking water should be relatively simple, although it might take a little perseverance at first, especially teaching a puppy to drink water from its bowl.

The majority of puppies will find being introduced to water in a bowl almost second nature. You do get the odd puppy who might take a hour or two to get their head around the new drinking skill needed!

Classic examples where its harder to introduce a puppy to water will be where they might be frightened by the sight of their reflection for the first time. This then makes them reluctant to go near their bowl again without some encouragement.

To help stop this from happening you can use an non-reflective bowl; the smaller the bowl, the better, as well as having anti-gulp design heres one on Amazon.

Once your puppy is comfortable drinking from this bowl, you can try moving them back on to the metal bowl. After a bit of persistence, this type of fearful reaction in your pup should begin to disappear entirely.

Likewise, if you are introducing a group of puppies to water there is always the chance that one may become dominant over the water bowl, snapping at his brothers or sisters when they get too close.

If this does happen, introduce each puppy to the drinking water bowl individually, or remove the offending pup for a while until the others have had their chance to drink from the bowl.

Finally, you may find your puppy is reluctant to drink water because it has been used to drinking its mothers milk. To make water more enticing, you can try adding small pieces of food to the water.

If this does not work, you can try mixing the water with one or two tablespoons of low sodium chicken broth. This should persuade the puppy to drink, and after they have become comfortable with this method, you can begin to lower the volume of the broth each time.

After a while, they should begin to get used to drinking just pure water.

How often should a puppy drink water?

Once you have successfully introduced your puppy to water, the next step is knowing how often puppies should drink water. Balance is required to stop them from drinking too little, or too much in one day. As they grow older, you can leave water out all day for them.

Overall, young puppies of 3 to 4 weeks old should be given around one half a cup of water every couple of hours to keep them hydrated whilst they explore their new world.

Any more than this can lead to frequent peeing around the house. Or in some cases, even vomiting or diarrhea.

Handy Hint: Read this guide if you have a dog or puppy who wont stop peeing on the furniture in your house.

Do you leave water out all the time for a puppy?

Because of this, its important that you carefully monitor how much you give a puppy to drink if you want to avoid these sorts of mishaps from happening in your home.

Likewise, young puppies can easily get dehydrated if they are drinking less of their mothers milk, and this can be extremely dangerous if not dealt with swiftly (we discuss this later in the article).

As they grow, puppies naturally begin to need less water.

Older pups who have completed the weaning process will, on average, need about ounce to 1 ounce of water per 1 pound of their body weight in a single day.

And this trend continues all the way up until they are adult dogs. In addition, it is important to note that this can vary slightly, depending on how active the dog is.

Handy Hint: Whilst its nothing to worry about now, once the puppy gets to 6 months you will need to change from 3 meals a day down to 2.

How do you know if a puppy is dehydrated?

Dehydration in puppies should never be taken lightly as there is always the chance it could turn into a serious situation very quickly. This is true for all dogs; however, it is particularly relevant to puppies.

In addition, extreme cases of hydration can sometimes result in organ failure, and if left untreated can lead to death. Thus, it is important that you are aware that your puppy is drinking water throughout the day. If they show any signs of not drinking from their bowl, act quickly heres how.

Thankfully, there are warning signs to look out for which can tell you if your puppy is becoming dehydrated. Knowing these signs can help you to avoid anything serious from happening and can help you feel confident in the knowledge that you can spot this if happens to your pup.

After all, it isnt always clear whether a pup has drunk enough water every time, especially if you are raising multiple puppies.

One of the most common symptoms of dehydration in dogs is skin elasticity. To test this, you can lightly lift or pull back the loose part of the skin located on the back of your puppys neck.

If they are dehydrated, the loose skin will not return back to its original place.

Likewise, a dry mouth or sticky gums, coupled with thick saliva can be another symptom of dehydration.

You can test this by lightly pressing your finger against your pups gums, and then removing it. A white patch will appear where you have pressed and will disappear rapidly if your puppy is hydrated.

Therefore, it is safe to deduce that your puppy is dehydrated if the patch takes longer than usual to disappear or if it does not disappear at all.

Handy Hint: Once your puppy starts to drink water from a bowl, expect hiccups, a lot of hiccups!

What should you do if your puppy drinks dirty water?

It can be exciting to take a puppy outside for the first time (heres how long you need to wait); however, it is important to remember that the outdoors can also have its fair share of dangers for a curious or adventurous pup one of these being standing or dirty water.

Many owners are probably unaware of the risks standing or dirty water can pose to their dogs or do not take it seriously even if they are aware.

In fact, most owners might not even notice when their puppy drinks water from outside, especially if they are distracted or otherwise occupied at the time.

Unfortunately, most outside water sources can pose a potential risk to a dogs health, and because of this, the same is doubly true for puppies.

The reason for this is due to a disease named canine leptospirosis, which is caused by a bacterium called leptospira. This bacterium can be found all over the world, in any bodies of water, and is spread via the urine of animals infected with the disease.

Puppies that start drinking water from outside are most likely to pick it up from still or stagnant water. It can have disastrous effects on their health if they do. In some cases, it can even be lethal; here are the signs to look out for as described by avma.org.

Signs of leptospirosis may include fever, shivering, muscle tenderness, reluctance to move, increased thirst, changes in the frequency or amount of urination, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes), or painful inflammation within the eyes.

Therefore, it is always advisable that you monitor your puppy when it is outdoors.

Additionally, always keep your puppy on leash around any wet areas and make sure that your puppy does not start to drink water from any puddles or other sources of water.

Handy Hint: Heres why dogs like to lap up and drink at rainwater so much, and what you should do if it becomes a habit with your puppy.

If your puppy does drink dirty water, try not to immediately panic. It is unlikely that they would have picked up the disease from their first drink.

However, it is a good idea to keep an eye on your puppy, and if they do show any symptoms of the disease as described earlier, you should take them to the vet immediately.

Conclusion

I hope Ive put youve mind at rest about when puppies can start to drink water. Theres so much more to read on the Doggysaurus website, starting with some more suggestions below.

If your dog has recently had a litter of puppies, you might find the following pieces of content of interest.

Image in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/puppy-new-born-dog-coton-tulear-3163956/

When Can Puppies Drink Water? A Guide for Owners & Breeders

One of the essential aspects of the puppies diet is water, which is necessary for their overall health and survival. However, many new puppy owners or breeders with a new litter often need clarification about when puppies can drink water.

Puppies, like all newborn babies, are born dependent on their mothers milk for the first few weeks of their life. During this time, they get all the hydration and nutrients from their mothers milk. However, as they grow and teeth erupt, they are gradually introduced to water and solid food to start their independent journey.

Giving your puppy access to clean, fresh water at the right time is essential for their well-being as dehydration can be deadly. However, it is crucial to monitor them to avoid overhydration too or the risks that come with potential drowning with very small puppies. In this article, we will explore when puppies can have water with the help of post-care newborn puppies expert D.F. Lawler, DVM and provide some helpful tips to ensure your pup stays away from both extremes.

So, When Can Puppies Start Drinking Water?

The answer is that it depends on the puppys age and size. Generally, puppies can start drinking water around three to four weeks old. However, it is essential to note that they should only be given water after from about three weeks old to experiment with as they still need to learn to lap water and how to digest it.

Once the puppys teeth start erupting, biologically, it shows that they are ready for something other than their mothers milk.

Once they start being weaned off their mothers milk and begin eating solid food, they will need fresh water to drink. Its important to always provide them with clean water, especially once they start eating solids, so they stay well-hydrated.

Avoid using a deep bowl, as the puppies can accidentally drown.

It is crucial to ensure that the water is clean and fresh. Puppies are susceptible to worms, infections, and illnesses like colitis, so their water bowl should be cleaned regularly to prevent bacteria from thriving. Also, avoid giving water in plastic bowls as bacteria and other pathogens are more prone growing in the micro-cracks in the plastic.

Understanding Puppy Hydration

Puppies, like all beings, require water to survive. However, its crucial to understand puppies have different hydration needs than adult dogs.

Young puppies, especially those under eight weeks old, may not be able to regulate their water intake as well as adult dogs. This means that they may drink too much water too quickly, which can lead to water intoxication.

Another factor to consider is the type of food the puppy is eating. Puppies that are eating wet food will generally require less water than those that are eating dry food. This is because damp food contains more moisture than dry food.

When Can Puppies Drink Water?

Before they are three weeks old, puppies typically receive all their hydration from their mothers milk. The mothers milk not only provides hydration but also essential nutrients and antibodies to help the puppies grow and stay healthy.

3 to 4 Weeks

At this stage, puppies begin the teething and weaning process, where they start to transition from solely nursing to consuming watery gruel and can also begin to drink water. Initially, their water consumption is minimal, as they are still adapting to the new experience of drinking water.

4 to 6 Weeks

As puppies grow and wean, their water intake will gradually increase. They will rely more on water for hydration as they consume less of their mothers milk.

6 to 8 Weeks

When puppies are ready to be weaned and transitioned to solid puppy food, they should drink water regularly. At this age, their water intake becomes more significant as they adapt to a primarily solid food diet.

How to Introduce Water to Puppies

Introducing water to puppies is an essential step in their development. Here are some steps and tips to help you introduce water to puppies:

Choosing the Right Bowl

When choosing a water bowl for your puppy, ensure it is the right size and material. The bowl should be shallow enough for the puppy to reach the water easily but not too shallow that it spills quickly. A shallow bowl is also essential because a deep bowl is a drowning risk for young puppies.

A stainless steel or ceramic bowl is a good choice because it is easy to clean and doesnt harbor bacteria and chemical compounds like plastic bowls can.

Make the bowl appealing

Initially, you can add warm water to their puppy food to create a soupy or watery consistency as it encourages them to lap it up and learn to eat rather than relying on nursing from their mother. Initially, they usually dont show much interest in plain water, but its essential to have a fresh source available for them to experiment with between meal times.

According to a 2004 study by Dr. Wendy Brown, they have stated that water temperature does not influence a dogs water intake. However, dogs with low body temperature chose to take warm water compared to others. Puppies under eight weeks old can struggle to regulate their body temperature, so keep the water available to them lukewarm to keep it from lowering their body temperature. During winter, you can even try to keep the water slightly warm.

Supervised introduction

Sit with the puppies and gently dip your finger into the water. Allow the puppies to sniff and investigate. You can even dip your finger into the water and let them lick it off your finger. This can help them get used to the taste and sensation.

Encourage with praise

When a puppy shows interest in the water or takes a sip, offer praise and positive reinforcement. Use a happy and encouraging tone to let the puppies know theyre doing well.

Be patient

Some puppies may gulp water down, while others might need more adjusting time. Dont force them, but keep offering water and positive reinforcement. Gulping, however, shouldnt be encouraged as it can lead to discomfort due to excess gasses in the stomach. If your puppy keeps gulping down water as they get older, you can try a slow water bowl to keep them from drinking too fast.

Make Fresh Water Available Most of the Time

It is vital to monitor and create a drinking schedule for your puppy to prevent over-drinking, which can lead to the puppy peeing a lot. However, young puppies should have access to water at all times until they begin potty training, when you may want to cut off water at night to prevent them needing to go outside to potty every two hours.

For example, if your puppy is slurping up too much water and having frequent accidents, you may need to adjust yourself and take them outside more frequently. Not allowing your pups access to water when they are thirsty can lead to polydipsia (drinking water excessively)and resource-guarding behavior, which can lead to your dog drinking more water once you allow them access, leading to more accidents.

When it comes to potty training, it is critical to know how long they can hold their pee. Start with small amounts and gradually increase as they get used to it. Keep an eye on their behavior and make adjustments to make sure they are drinking fresh, clean water throughout the date.

Keep the water bowl clean

If you have a litter of young puppies that are learning to drink water, chances are they are going to be walking in their water bowl and even pooping in it for the first few weeks. This means it is vital to have several water bowls on hand to switch out for a clean one three or four times a day. Disinfect the water bowls daily exactly as you would disinfect a babys bottles.

Also, make sure puppies are dewormed as early as possible (as well as their mothers), with a dewormer that is safe for very young puppies. This way you prevent intestinal worms being spread among the litter in the water.

Monitoring Puppy Hydration

Dehydration and overhydration (water toxicosis) can be severe cases for puppies and lead to various health problems. Here are some tips on how to monitor your puppys hydration:

Observe Urine Output

One of the most straightforward ways to monitor a puppys hydration is by observing their urine output. Healthy puppies should urinate regularly, and their urine should be pale yellow. If you notice that your puppy is urinating less frequently or that their urine is dark yellow or concentrated, it may be a sign that you need to hydrate your dog.

Check the Gums

Healthy gums should be moist and pink. Gently press your finger against your puppys gums. If the gums feel dry, tacky, or pale, it could indicate dehydration. Hydrated gums should return to their standard color within two seconds after pressing. If they take longer, it shows hydration.

Skin Elasticity

Gently lift the skin on the back of your puppys neck and release it. In a well-hydrated puppy, the skin should quickly snap back into place. If the skin remains lifted or returns slowly, it may suggest dehydration.

Monitor Thirst

Pay attention to your puppys water intake. A well-hydrated puppy should drink water regularly. If your puppy suddenly drinks significantly more or less water than usual, it could be a sign of a problem. Keep fresh, clean water available at all times.

Monitor their water intake and do not allow them to have too much water. Too much water intake could lead to decreased coordination, lethargy, dilated pupils, and a bloated stomach. It can also lead to death.

Assess Activity and Energy Levels

Dehydrated puppies may become lethargic and lose interest in play and exercise. Monitor your puppys activity and energy levels. If they seem unusually tired and uninterested in activities, it could be due to dehydration.

Watch for Symptoms

Dehydration in puppies can lead to symptoms such as dry nose, stumbling when walking, sunken eyes, loss of appetite, and panting. If you notice any of these symptoms, its essential to address the issue promptly.

Keep in mind that overhydration, while rare, can happen. Puppies born with diabetes or other endocrine disorders, for example may drink water excessively (polydipsia). Sometimes polydipsia can be psychogenic, meaning there is no physical reason it happens. While this is not something to worry about typically, keep an eye on puppies gulping a lot of water all the time as it could be an underlying health issue or cause water toxicosis.

Ensure your puppy always has access to fresh water, especially during hot weather or after physical activity. If youre concerned about your puppys hydration, dont hesitate to seek professional advice from your veterinarian to keep your puppy healthy and well-hydrated.

Veterinary Advice on Puppy Hydration

Puppies have different hydration needs due to their smaller size and developing digestive system. Heres what veterinary experts recommend for ensuring your puppy stays appropriately hydrated.

Heat Considerations

In hot weather, puppies can become dehydrated more quickly. Space out water breaks throughout the day and provide shade during warm days.

Diet and Feeding

Consider the type of food youre feeding your puppy. Dry kibble may require more water consumption than wet or raw diets. Make sure your puppys diet supports their hydration needs.

Hydration Alternatives

In addition to water, puppies can get hydration from wet food, which has a higher moisture content than dry kibble. You can offer your puppy ice cubes or frozen treats from low-sodium chicken broth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much water should a puppy drink in 24 hours?

A general rule is that three to four-week-old puppies should have about half a cup of water per pound of body weight per 24 hours. However, this can vary depending on the breed, age, and activity level of the puppy.

When can puppies drink water at night?

Puppies can ingest water at night if they are thirsty, but it is crucial to monitor their intake. Puppies under six months old may need to go outside to relieve themselves during the night, so it is essential to limit their water to two hours before bedtime to make potty training easier.

When can puppies drink milk?

Puppies should drink their mothers milk for the first few weeks of life, as it provides essential nutrients and antibodies. After three to four weeks, puppies can transition to solid food and consuming water.

Can a one-month-old puppy drink water?

Yes, puppies can start drinking water at around four weeks old. However, they should still be nursing from their mother or drinking puppy formula to ensure they are getting enough nutrients.

When do puppies start eating food?

Puppies can start eating solid food at around three to four weeks old. It is essential to introduce food gradually and choose high-quality puppy food that meets their nutritional needs.

When can puppies have water before bed?

Puppies above six months old can have water before bed since they can sleep through the night without going to pee. For younger puppies, it is recommended to stop giving water to puppies two hours before bedtime to allow yourself time to take them for one last potty break.

Final Thoughts

It is generally safe to offer your pup water when they are three to four weeks old as soon as they start eating solid food.

It is essential to monitor a puppys water intake and ensure they do not have too much water too quickly, as this can lead to water intoxication. Puppies should also be encouraged to drink water throughout the day, especially during hot weather or after exercise.

Overall, providing puppies with access to clean and fresh water is essential for their health and well-being. Following the above mentioned guidelines, pet owners can ensure their puppies are properly hydrated and healthy.

Meet Your Experts

Tamsin De La Harpe

Author

Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions.Tamsin currently keeps a busy homestead with an assortment of rescue dogs and three Bullmastiffs.