Puppy Drinking Water

My new 8 week old puppy seems like he can't get enough to drink. He just got his first shots the day I got him. Is this normal? Should I let hime drink all he wants?

Janice here...

In my experience, puppies (as well as older dogs) drink a lot of water. But this of course depends on various factors.

Dogs and Puppies drink more in the hot weather because they pant and loose fluids that need to be replenished, just as we do when we sweat.

Dogs and Puppies will drink more if they are eating dry kibble as opposed to kibble that has been soaked in water, raw, or canned foods.

I never withhold water from puppies except at night when I am trying to potty train.

With that said, there are some medical conditions that cause dogs to drink more than normal. This is a question best answered by a veterinarian. I would recommend that you call the vet that administered the vaccines to get his/her opinion. If a vet did not give the shots, it would be very important to have your puppy checked out.

A puppy that young should be supervised very carefully as they do tend to explore, wander and get into things they should not get into. As with human babies, puppies explore with their mouths and can accidentally ingest something that is not safe causing him to drink more water. Hopefully this did not happen. Good Luck with your New Puppy!!

Click here to post comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Don't see what you need on Miracle Shih Tzu Website?.

Janice Jones is a Shih Tzu specialist and former breeder with a background in veterinary care, grooming, training, and canine behavior. She has spent nearly 50 years working with the breed and ran a home-based breeding program for 15 years, raising well-socialized puppies. Early in her career, she worked as a veterinary assistant supporting surgery, x-rays, and lab work. She shares practical guidance at miracleshihtzu.com and across social platforms. Today, she enjoys the quiet companionship of her aging dogs, understanding them as they understand her.

Janice is walking a few of her Shih Tzu dogsYou guessed it, I'm not a trained dog walker.