Clinical Approach to Common Infections Practice Test

Puppies have higher water turnover than adults because they grow fast and have higher metabolic demands, so they typically need about twice the water per kilogram of body weight compared with adult dogs. At the same time, their kidneys are not fully mature, which means they have a reduced ability to excrete excess water quickly. So they require more water overall, but their capacity to get rid of surplus water is limited, making careful management of fluid intake important. As they mature, renal function improves and their ability to handle water balance becomes more like that of an adult.