A dog normally loses water in a number of ways. It loses water in its urine and feces, through panting and to a certain extent through sweating. If your dog does not get enough water, then it can become dehydrated, in much the same way as person gets dehydrated. First your dog will become thirsty and then it will get dehydrated. Dehydration can be caused by heat, low water intake, or a loss of fluids due to vomiting or diarrhea that can cause its bodily fluids to drop to below the normal level. If your dog eats canned dog food, it's getting a fair amount of water with its food. However, this isn't enough to fulfill its daily requirement. Dogs should have two dishes, one for food and one for water. Fill your dog's water bowl with water every day to make sure it has clean water available all day long [sources: American Kennel Club, Fogle]. Here are some signs, which your dog will exhibit when it's thirsty.
- Panting Panting is the method that dogs use to keep their body temperature down. However, this is only effective when the dog is sufficiently hydrated. If your dog is not panting and it's hot, it's thirsty and needs water.
- Constipation A dog needs water in order to expel its body waste. If your dog seems constipated, then there is not enough water in its digestive system, and it is probably thirsty [source: Davis].
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