Pets · Hydration

Pet Water Intake Calculator

Estimate how much water your dog or cat should drink every day — adjusted for body weight, activity level and weather, based on the veterinary guideline of roughly 50 ml per kg per day.

Pet type

Weight (lb)

Activity level

Weather

Dogs and cats need roughly 40–60 ml of water per kg of body weight each day (about 0.7–1 oz per lb). Food matters too: dry kibble is only ~10% water, while wet food is ~78% water.

Suggested daily water intake

fresh drinking water, on top of moisture in food—

In cups

—

US cups (240 ml)

In ounces

—

fl oz

Per kg body weight

—

ml/kg/day

If fed wet food

—

~70% already in food

Weight	Low activity	Moderate	High activity

Dehydration warning signs: dry or sticky gums, sunken eyes, loss of skin elasticity (skin stays tented when pinched), lethargy, and dark or little urine. If you see these — or your pet stops drinking entirely — contact your vet promptly.

How it’s calculated

Water = weight(kg) × 50 ml × activity factor × weather factor

The 50 ml/kg/day figure is the middle of the 40–60 ml/kg/day range cited by veterinary references (Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA). The result is a target for fresh drinking water — food moisture and metabolic water cover part of the total, so this is a guide, not a strict limit.

💧 Veterinary guideline

Based on the 40–60 ml/kg/day reference range for dogs and cats.

🌡 Weather aware

Hot and humid weather raises water needs by up to 25% — the calculator adjusts for it.

🛠 Activity adjusted

Working dogs and very active pets get a higher target than couch potatoes.

🧩 Wet food factor

Shows how much water your pet already gets from wet food (about 78% moisture).

Hydration meets nutrition

Balance water with the right daily calorie and feeding amounts.

Dog Food Calculator