Water

Water accounts for between 60 to 70% of the body weight of an adult dog. It is a very simple nutrient, but also very important.

It helps to regulate the body temperature, faciliates the movement of food through the digestive system, transports other nutrients and oxygen through the blood system to the cells, is needed in most chemical reactions of the metabolism, to remove toxins, to provide lubrication for the joints and lung tissues and the electrical polarity in the cells without which no living being can exist.

Insufficient intake of water can impair physical activity, reproduction, lactation, and growth. The loss of 15% of the body's water content can already result in death.

Make sure your dog always has access to plenty of fresh, clean water. If you restrict access to water, the only thing you are going to teach your dog is that it is not available at all times and he has to get his fill whenever it is available. This is not healthy and may lead to stomach upsets and bladder infections. The only times you should supervise water intake is after heavy exercise or when a dog is already overheated and/or dehydrated. In those situations, give small amounts of water frequently until things are back to normal.

In regards to water quality, consider if you would drink (unfiltered) tap water at your home or if you are relying on bottled water. Even just filtering tap water with an inexpensive filter will improve its quality and probably make it more palatable for your dog as well.