Why shouldn't dogs drink water when panting?
Mazie Bernhard
2025-08-05 13:52:31
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Dogs don’t sweat in the same way that we do, so in order to regulate their body temperature and cool themselves down, they need to pant. Panting is part of a dog’s normal cooling process. When panting, they breathe out hot air and breathe in cool air, while allowing water to evaporate from their tongue and mouth. If you see your dog panting, try taking the following steps: Stop exercise, Provide them with a drink of fresh, clean water, Give them the time and space to calm and cool down.
Stephany Ryan
2025-08-05 10:41:41
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When dogs are panting, it's not a good idea for them to drink water because excessive water intake can lead to water intoxication. In dogs, excessive water intake often occurs when swimming, diving, or water-retrieving, and even play-biting the stream of water from a garden hose or sprinkler can overload a dog’s system and lead to water intoxication. Because their bodies have to work harder to clear out the excess water in their system, toy and small dogs are at greater risk than larger ones. Water intoxication goes by a variety of names, including water poisoning, hyperhydration, and water toxemia, and this problem can come on suddenly, and the outcome can be fatal. First, sodium levels outside the cells are depleted, a condition called hyponatremia, and in an effort to rebalance itself, the body responds to low blood sodium by increasing fluid intake inside the cells, which can cause the brain to swell and lead to symptoms such as lethargy, bloating, vomiting, and loss of coordination. Some organs, such as the liver, can accommodate the increased volume of their swelling cells, but others — in particular, the brain, which is encased in bone — cannot.
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