Water at night?

[Luhmann]

I just read this article about the dangers of heat stroke:

http://dogs.suite101.com/article.cfm/dogs_and_heat_stroke

And now it has me worried about the fact that I take water away from my dog at night (between her last walk in the evening and her first walk in the morning).

We live in a fairly hot climate with a golden retriever. Should she be allowed to drink water all night?

No problems yet, but we just got her house trained not too long ago and I don't want to create a situation where she can't hold it in before her morning walk... at the same time I don't want her to overheat in the summer!

On a related note, is there a way I can give her water in the car without creating a big mess?

 

[jason_els]

My vet has been very emphatic about water being available all the time. I know some people on this forum feel differently, but I can't deny an animal water. I worried about giving my pups water at night but at 14 weeks they can now actually hold for a good 7 hours even with water available to them.

To me, an accident is minor compared to a dehydrated animal, particularly in hot weather. Does your dog alert you to needing to go out? If she does, she would likely wake you if she has to go out.

I bring water with me in a bottle when I travel and either water the dog directly from that just by holding it or i'll bring a travel bowl. It's not a big deal and again, the health risks by witholding water aren't worth the inconvenience of pulling over.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

In summer, access to water at all times. In and out of crate.

It differs in the winter time, they still have access to water, but if left in crates for an hour, we normally won't put water. If it's an extended time, then they do get water.

Hope that made sense!

Oh, and we have a water bowl and bottled water in the truck at all times. When we go to the park, we have a dog back pack with a water bowl and bottled water.

Water is a necessity no matter where you are!

 

[bubbatd]

How much water is your Golden drinking ??? Until I got Chip , one large bowl was enough for my 2 goldens a day .... Then with Chip , I'd have to add more . Now with Ollie , I have to change every day !! I never needed water in the car ....if a long trip , I'd water at rest stops . I've never with held water . Even my grandpup Seger has water at all times .

 

[RD]

During the summer months here, the boys have water at all times, even at night.

Eve, however, does not. Not because of the potential for accidents, but because she will throw her bowl up against the sides of the crate in the middle of the night. If I get the plastic ones that attach to the crate, she scratches at them or chews them up. So, no water in her crate at night until she's quieter with the bowls.

 

[bubbatd]

I don't know how you crate people handle it !

 

[Lizmo]

Our dogs have water 24/7. And in the summer months (we Live in AL, I say no more) they have water outside on the deck.

 

[SisMorphine]

At my house water is not available at night. I don't care if it's 8 million degrees outside. I am always air conditioned indoors, and they have free access to water during the day, but after last outs they are shut off until breakfast.

Do you wake up in the middle of the night and demand a drink? I don't. I USED to take a glass of water to bed with me. I USED to get up in the middle of the night to pee. Now I DON'T bring a glass of water to bed with me and I DON'T get up in the middle of the night to pee. And guess what . . . I'm not dehydrated!

Obviously only you can make that decision, but I'm just saying that in my house we all live very well without water being available in the "off" hours.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Actually, I do take a glass of water with me to bed. I do need to drink water most of the time in the night. Although I've never had to wake in the middle of my slumber.

So, now that we understand that humans are different, maybe we can come to the same conclusion regarding dogs.

Some dogs may need water, some may not. It is always available to my crew, I will never deny them a basic necessity.

Carry on.