Pet water intake calculator
Find out roughly how much water your dog or cat should drink each day, adjusted for whether they eat dry, wet, or mixed food.
Your dog should drink about
750–900 ml
per day (about 3.1–3.8 cups)
How the water intake calculator works
As a healthy baseline, dogs and cats need roughly 50 to 60 ml of water per kilogram of body weight each day. That total includes water from food as well as from the bowl, which is why diet matters so much. This calculator starts from that range and adjusts it for how your pet eats.
Wet and canned foods are mostly water, often 70 to 80 percent, so a pet on a wet diet already takes in a lot of moisture with every meal and will drink less from the bowl. A pet on dry kibble has to make up almost all of its needs by drinking, so the estimate is higher. Mixed diets fall in between.
Use this as a rough target, not a strict rule. Hot weather, exercise, and certain medications all increase how much a pet drinks. What matters most is a sudden change: if your pet starts drinking far more or far less than usual, that is worth a call to your vet. Keeping fresh water available at all times is always the right move.
Frequently asked questions
How much water should my dog drink per day?
A rough guide is 50 to 60 ml of water per kg of body weight each day, or about 1 ounce per pound. So a 15 kg dog needs somewhere around 750 to 900 ml. Dogs on wet food drink less because their food already contains a lot of water.
How much water should my cat drink?
Cats need roughly the same 50 to 60 ml per kg per day, but they evolved to get most of their moisture from prey, so many cats on dry food do not drink enough. Feeding wet food and offering fresh water in several spots helps keep them hydrated.
Does wet food count toward water intake?
Yes. Canned and wet foods are often around 70 to 80 percent water, so a pet eating mostly wet food gets a large share of its daily water from meals and will drink noticeably less. This calculator lowers the drinking estimate when you select a wet or mixed diet.
When should I worry about how much my pet drinks?
Call your vet if your pet suddenly drinks much more or much less than usual. A big jump in thirst can signal diabetes, kidney disease, or other conditions, while too little water raises the risk of dehydration and urinary problems. Sudden changes matter more than the exact number.
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Scan your first label freeThis calculator gives general guidance only, not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian for medical decisions about your pet.