03/03/2026
This is something I often get asked by concerned pet parents- "How much should my cat/dog be drinking?- I am worried they are not drinking enough.."
The answer comes down to what they are being fed -Dry vs Tin vs Raw, (in addition, any food that is highly processed, will also contain preservatives and salt compounds that create dehydration.)
Therefore:
The quantity of water present in the food depends on the type of diet. Commercial, dry pet food may contain as little as 7% water, but some canned rations contain up to 84% water. Fresh food can contain 80% and upwards of water. Studies have shown that both dogs and cats are able to maintain water balance with no source of drinking water when fed diets containing more than 67% moisture.
So, therefore, the more REAL your pets' food is, the more in harmony it will bewith your pet, and the more fluid they can absorb from it, meaning they need to actually drink less on average from their water bowl.
