An adult dog can survive on average 2-3 days without water. However, the actual length of time depends on physical activity, temperature, individual health, type of food and age.
However, survival does not equate to optimal health. Permanent organ damage can be expected after 2 days at the latest.
The reason? Both a dog's and a human's body consist of around 80% water. This is why people can survive a maximum of 3 days without water. [1]
Even a water shortage of 1-2% has visible consequences. This also explains why dogs survive around twice as long without food as without water. [2]
As time goes on, the symptoms become significantly worse.
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Day #1
There are usually no symptoms within the first 6-10 hours. So if you forgot the water before work, then that's no big problem.
After around 10 hours, the first symptoms of dehydration appear:
- Heavy panting
- Lack of energy [3]
Going more than 12 hours without water is already torture for dogs. Ideally, these four-legged friends should have constant access to fresh water.
If you often forget this, then I recommend buying a self-filling water dispenser. Alternatively, such a drinking fountain is also suitable for dogs.
Day #2
After 24 hours at the latest, the first more serious symptoms appear:
- Loss of appetite
- Dry gums
- listlessness
- Unusually dark urine color
- Sunken eyes [4]
Most dogs can survive without water for 24-48 hours, but from this point on it is officially considered animal cruelty in Germany.
According to Section 17 of the Animal Protection Act, you can face a fine or even a prison sentence of up to 3 years. In addition, the dogs can be confiscated if they are reported. [5]
If the dog has diarrhea or vomits within the first 2 days, the lack of water can become life-threatening.
Day #3
Now things are getting really serious. Few dogs survive for 72 hours without water. Typical symptoms here are:
- Very dry mouth
- Inability to walk
- Dry and cracked nose
- Permanent organ damage
- Organ failure and death [6]
If you find a dog in this condition, I recommend going to the animal emergency clinic as soon as possible.
Influencing factors
The individual length of time can vary greatly from dog to dog. The following factors are responsible for this:
The more active a dog is, the more water it needs. On the other hand, if the dog sleeps a lot, then he can last much longer without water.
Water is used by dogs, among other things, to regulate their body temperature. At very high temperatures, dogs therefore have to drink more. [7]
Illnesses such as diabetes, diarrhea or vomiting can massively increase individual water requirements.
With wet food, the need for additional water is lower than with dry food. In addition, very salty food also increases the amount of water you need to drink.
Young puppies that are still dependent on mother's milk can go without water for significantly less time than fully mature dogs.
The recommended drinking amount is 65 ml per kg of body weight. A dog weighing 20 kg should therefore drink around 1.3 liters of water every day. [8]
Important: If your dog hasn't drunk anything for a full 24 hours for no apparent reason, then I recommend visiting the vet as a precaution.
Test dehydration yourself
If you are unsure how long your dog hasn't had a drink, the following 3 tests can help:
- #1 Skin Elasticity Test
If you pinch the skin on the dog's back, it should immediately spring back to its original position when properly hydrated.
If, on the other hand, the skin only recedes slowly, then there is a lack of water. However, this test is ineffective for dogs with a lot of wrinkles and excess skin.
If you press your dog's gums with your index finger and then remove the finger, they should immediately turn pink again.
On the other hand, if the gums remain white for several seconds, this could indicate dehydration. [9]
Basically, the darker the color of urine, the less your dog drinks. Light yellow is optimal while the amount of water is too small for dark yellow.
However, if the urine is reddish or even brown, then I recommend visiting the vet. This applies regardless of how long your dog has gone without water.
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