Have you ever wondered if Basset Hounds drink a lot of water? Since many people are curious about this, I’ve crafted a helpful article just for you. So, let’s dive in.
Do Basset Hounds drink a lot of water? Basset Hounds tend to drink a lot of water due to age, activity level, seasonal effects, dehydration, health issues, wrong diet, and medication. Possible solutions include adequate exercise, avoiding air conditioning effects, an appropriate diet plan, and consulting a vet.
Since this can occur for both normal and abnormal reasons, it’s important to be aware of them as a responsible owner. In fact, we’ll cover pretty much every aspect of this matter and other associated problems.
Reasons why some basset hounds drink a lot of water.
Basset hounds are one of the most loving and friendly, sociable dogs I have ever seen. Since people are so curious and love these ground dogs, I decided to meet a handful of basset hound owners to get knowledge and experience.
And eventually, to craft a series of articles about basset hounds, which you can find HERE, though. These short creatures tend to do some weird things due to several reasons. That can be due to both normal and abnormal circumstances.
When I met those owners, some of them mentioned this excessive drinking problem of basset hounds, and they have solved it right away as they identified that.
In fact, this problem can occur in all most all dogs, but some circumstances are really specific to this breed. So, we gonna talk now about those reasons. I hope it helps.
So, here is the list of reasons,
- The age
- The activity level
- Seasonal or weather effects
- Dehydration
- Potential health problems.
- Wrong diet
- Medication
1. The age can be the reason why does your basset hound drink a lot of water
The age of your basset hound can significantly impact how much water they take on a daily basis. When we think about basset hound puppies, they tend to drink more water if the water bowl is in front of them.
In fact, they cannot stay without drinking water for an extended period of time. The most important thing is you should supervise their water intake, or it can lead to loads of troubles.
Important: You should take your basset hound puppy right after drinking water to prevent some unexpected accidents.
So, Their water intake increases with age, and when it comes to adult basset hounds, they tend to drink more water. So, you should supervise your old basset hound’s water intake and, more importantly, make sure to fill their water bowl enough times a day.
2. The activity level can be a reason
As a basset hound lover, you may have already known that these short creatures are lazy up to some degree while some other basset hounds do not calm down even after 3 years.
But, overall, they are low-energy dogs and often face hard times when going jogging or playing fetch. The main reason is they are low-energy dogs, and exercises that can be done at a slow pace are ideal for them.
So, what I want to emphasize here is, even though they are low-energy dogs, some basset hounds tend to be more active compared to the average one. These types of basset hounds tend to drink more water on a daily basis.
Of course, if this is the reason, it is completely normal. But I do wanna mention that If this problem seems excessive, it is better to seek Vet advice.
Some basset hounds enjoy living outside and they are more active than a sedentary dogs. So, you should place the water bowl outside a place where your canine buddy can easily access it.
Important: Be sure to replace the water to prevent growing bacteria.
3. Seasonal or weather effects could be the reason why does your basset hound drink a lot of water.
That means, the water intake of your dog can be increased during the summer. Even humans tend to drink more water on hot days. This seems obvious, though. But the point is true.
Of course, there is one thing that most people do not recognize, which is the air condition causes them to feel some dry feeling.
Be sure to fill the water bowl more frequently during the summer. It is recommended to buy an auto-filling water bowl, so you don’t want to worry about filling the water bowl more frequently.
4. Dehydration
Dehydration could be one of the main reasons why your basset hound drinks water excessively. Usually, young, nursing, older dogs are more prone to dehydration.
Even you can recognize if your dog suffers from dehydration. So, check if the dog exhibits the following symptoms,
- Dry nose
- Thick saliva
- Sticky, dry gums
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Lethargy
- Panting
- Reduced energy level
- Dry looking eyes
- Loss of appetite
- Weak rear end
- Dark urine
If so, your basset hound suffers from dehydration. So, consult a veterinarian ASAP!.
There are several reasons why this problem can occur.
- Lack of water intake
- Excessive panting
- Excessive breathing
- lack of food intake
- Overheating and perspiration
- Strenuous exercise
- Some health problems.
5. Basset hounds tend to drink so much water due to a wrong diet
This is one of the common reasons why this problem happens. If your dog’s diet is mainly based on dry food will cause your dog to drink significantly more water. In most cases, foods that contain 5% -10% of water are considered dry food.
In fact, you need to keep in mind that high sodium foods are not suitable for your basset hound because it could lead to drinking a lot of water. This is why professionals do not recommend providing human food for dogs. Because human food contains a large amount of salt.
So, always make sure to consult a veterinarian to make an appropriate diet for your basset hound.
6. Medication
If your basset hound is being medicated for any illness or health problem, he/she is more likely to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Consider getting advice from your veterinarian.
Suggested Reading: Do Basset hound ears keep growing?
What can you do if your basset hound drinks a lot of water?

I hope you now have a proper understanding of the possible causes of this problem. So, it’s time to take a look at what you can do.
So, here are several approaches you can take,
- Provide adequate exercise.
- Avoid the effects of dehydration from air conditioning.
- Create an appropriate diet plan for your basset hound.
- Consult a veterinarian.
1. Provide adequate exercise.
As we discussed above, basset hounds tend to drink a lot of water because of unbearable exercise. So, it’s better to make an appropriate exercise schedule for your canine friend.
Being said that, don’t try to make it by yourself. Because we have to consider loads of things before an exercise schedule for a dog.
Their exercise needs can be varied with their,
- Age
- Health status
- Nutrition intake
- Season
- Gender, etc.
So, always make sure to consult a veterinarian to set up a proper exercise schedule for your dog. However, you need to be careful when taking your Basset hound for long walks.
2. If your basset hound drinks so much water, avoid the effects of dehydration from air conditioning.
You need to understand that this problem can occur in both summer air conditioning and winter heating. So, to minimize this effect, you can do the following things.
- Slightly open a window and let in the fresh outside air.
- Keep baffles over the cooling and heating vents
- If you feel the house is too much dry, keep bowls of water here and there.
- Keep several house plants. But make sure that plants are not toxic for your dog.
- Supervise your basset hound’s water intake and allow it to drink enough water by giving enough water.
- Bathe your basset hound frequently.
3. Create an appropriate diet plan for your basset hound.
As we discussed earlier, Certain foods can cause your dog to become thirsty. So, your basset hound will end up drinking a lot of water. So, I recommend consulting a veterinarian to set up an appropriate diet for your dog.
Note: These things are just for your knowledge. You are the one who knows well about your dog. So, consider consulting a veterinarian as soon as you identified the problem. We are not responsible for any action you take.
By the way, here is why does your Basset hound is not eating.
How much water should a basset hound drink per day?
As discussed above, basset hounds are medium-sized dogs, and their weight ranges from 45 to 63 lbs. In fact, you should understand that their amount of water intake depends on the above factors.
But, if you want to understand the correct water amount for your basset hound, first measure the weight of the dog. Then multiply that value by 1 ounce. For example, if a basset hound is weighed 50 lbs, it needs around 50 ounces of water per day.
Things to be aware of
I think you now have a proper understanding of whether basset hounds drink a lot of water and possible reasons with solutions. But that’s not enough, I mean you need to be aware of several other things. So, let’s figure out what they are.
Don’t limit the water intake of your basset hound.
This is a very important point, though. If your basset hound drinks water, let him drink. Don’t attempt to limit it. Besides some bad health issues, Usually, dogs have a good sense of how much water they need to intake in order to stay well.
Clean the water bowl daily.
Be sure to clean the water bowl on a daily basis. So, you have to rinse around and inside the bowl with a brush to make sure the bowl is completely clean.
Keep plenty of water available.
So, Always be sure to keep plenty of water available. You don’t wanna worry about how much water it drinks if he is entirely healthy. As I mentioned above, they have a good sense of how much water they should drink. So, don’t try to keep a small amount of water.
When your dog plays outside, keep a water bowl.
When your basset hound plays outside in the backyard, especially during hot days, be sure to keep a water bowl place where it is easily accessible. Give the dog a signal to let him know where the water bowl is. In fact, Do not place it in a sunny place. It’s better if you can add some ice to the water bowl.
Don’t give tap water
Usually, Water distributed by municipal water systems is treated with certain chemicals for purification purposes. But, those chemicals could be harmful to your dog. In fact, sediment and minerals can be leached into the water from old pipes. So, make sure to provide your dog with clean and pure water.
Keep a water bowl inside the crate
When you crate your basset hound, always make sure to keep a water bowl inside the crate just to prevent dehydration.
Keep the water bowl stable place
If you leave your basset hound throughout the day, be sure to keep the water bowl in a place where it will not rollover. If not, the dog will stay thirsty until you get home.
Do not let your basset drink from the dog park bowl.
When you go to a dog park, do not let your basset hound drink from communal water bowls at dog parks. Because in dog park bowls May contains bacteria and viruses that are harmful to your dog.
Don’t let your basset hound drink from lakes.
Never ever let your dog drink water from lakes, streams, or ponds. This is because water can contain many harmful parasites.
Conclusion
Many people love these lovely, friendly short creatures. But, many owners are curious to know if basset hounds drink a lot of water. So, this article is a comprehensive guide to this particular matter, and I hope it helps you. I will appreciate it if you could share your thoughts and experiences on this matter. Thanks for reading. Have a nice day.