My two German Shepherds Reka and Les love water. They love to play in it, dive into it and of course drink from it. Of all the weird dog obsessions, water may be one of the best. Have you ever wondered how dogs drink water? The answer is far from simple.
At first glance, the way dogs drink water seems simple: dogs drink by licking the water with their tongues. However, what seems easy for dogs is almost impossible for us. So how does a dog’s tongue move water from the mouth to the throat?
It took researchers a long time to answer this question. However, the wait was worth it: what they found was also interesting.
look at your dog. look at yourself. We have one thing that dogs don’t really have, and that’s water. Do you know what this is?
Sunhwan “Sunny” Jung, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics at Virginia Tech, said in a statement. He did research on how cats and dogs drink to understand the physical mechanism and found that the main reason dogs don’t drink like we do is because of what he calls “incomplete cheeks.”
This trait is shared by all predators, Jung said, and your dog is one of them. “Their mouths open all the way down to the cheek. The large mouth allows them to open their mouths wide, which helps them quickly kill prey by increasing the force of their bite.”
So what does this have to do with drinking water? It returns to the cheek again. “The problem is, because of their cheeks, they can’t soak up water like humans,” Jung explained. “If they try to suck on water, air comes out of the corners of their mouths. They cannot close their cheeks to suckle. That is why predators, including dogs, have developed a tongue-licking mechanism.”
”Instead of sucking up water, dogs move their tongues in their mouths and into the water,” Jung said. “They create a column of water and then bite into that column of water to drink from it.”
So what is a water column? Literally, if you quickly dip your hand into or out of a bowl of water, you’ll get a splash. If you try it yourself (it’s fun!), you’ll see the water rise and fall in a column shape. This is what your dog chews when he drinks water.
It’s not easy to figure this out. When the dogs dipped their tongues into the water, scientists were puzzled as to what else they were doing: they rolled their tongues back as they did so. Their tongues look like spoons, leading scientists to wonder if dogs scoop up water in their mouths.
To find out, a team of researchers took X-rays of the dogs’ mouths to see how water is transported. “They found that water sticks to the front of the tongue and not to the shape of the ladle,” Jung said. “Water that gets on the front of the tongue is swallowed. The water from the spoon flows back into the bowl.
So why do dogs make this spoon shape? This is the starting point of Jung’s research. “The reason they form a bucket shape is to not scoop,” he explained. “The size of the water column depends on how much area is in contact with the water. Dogs that fold their tongue back mean that the front of the tongue has more surface area to contact with the water.”
Science is great, but can it explain why dogs are so embarrassed when it comes to drinking water? Indeed, Jung said that he suggested that the dog did it on purpose. When they create a water column, they try to create as large a water column as possible. To do this, they more or less stick their tongues into the water, creating huge jets of water that cause great disturbance.
But why would they do it? In contrast, Jung singled out cats that drink more thinly than their canine counterparts. “Cats don’t like splashing water on themselves, so they create small jets of water when they lick,” he explained. In contrast, “dogs don’t care if water hits them, so they create the biggest jet of water they can.”
If you don’t want to wipe up the water every time your dog drinks, use a damp-proof bowl or collection pad. This won’t stop your dog from playing science with the water bowl, but it will reduce the mess. (Unless your dog, like mine, drips when he runs out of the water bowl.)
Now that you know how your dog drinks water, the next question is: how much water does a dog need per day? It all depends on the size of your dog. According to the article How Much Water Should Dogs Drink Every Day? , “A healthy dog drinks 1/2 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day.” cups .
Does this mean that you need to measure a certain amount of water every day? not completely. How much water your dog drinks also depends on their activity level, diet, and even the weather. If your dog is active or it’s hot outside, expect him to drink more water.
Of course, the problem with the always-on water bowl is that it’s hard to tell if your dog is drinking too much or too little. Both of these conditions may indicate a problem with your dog.
If you think your dog is drinking too much water, try to rule out possible causes such as exercise, hot water, or dry food.
If that doesn’t explain it, then a dog drinking too much water could be a sign of something serious. It could be kidney disease, diabetes, or Cushing’s disease. Take your dog to the vet immediately to rule out any health problems.
Sometimes dogs just accidentally drink too much water while playing or swimming. This is called water intoxication and it can also be life threatening. Most dogs regurgitate excess water and you should prevent them from drinking too much water again.
Not sure if your dog is drinking too much water? Look for signs of water intoxication such as nausea, vomiting, lethargy and bloating, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. In more severe cases, your dog may have a seizure or go into a coma. If you notice any of these signs, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
Similarly, if your dog is drinking too little water, this could indicate a problem. Try to rule out the cause first, such as if the weather is cooler or your dog is less active. If not, then it may be a sign of illness.
Here’s what veterinarian Dr. Eric Bachas writes in his column “Ask the Vet: How Much Water Should Dogs Drink?” pointed out. “A marked decrease in water intake may be a sign of nausea, which can be caused, for example, by gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract,” he writes. “It can also be a late symptom of a serious metabolic problem. For example, dogs with kidney failure may drink more water for several days or weeks, but as the disease progresses, they stop drinking and become sick or too sick to eat anything.” or through the mouth.
Jessica Pineda is a freelance writer who lives in Northern California with her two German Shepherds, Forest and River. Check out her dog’s Instagram page: @gsd_riverandforest.
When the dogs dipped their tongues into the water, scientists were puzzled as to what else they were doing: they rolled their tongues back as they did so. Their tongues look like spoons, leading scientists to wonder if dogs scoop up water in their mouths.
To find out, a team of researchers took X-rays of the dogs’ mouths to see how water is transported. “They found that water sticks to the front of the tongue and not to the shape of the ladle,” Jung said. “Water that gets on the front of the tongue is swallowed. The water from the spoon flows back into the bowl.
Post time: Jul-14-2023
