What Can Dogs Drink Besides Water? Safe Options and Important Limits

If you’re curious about what your dog can drink besides water, here’s the simple answer: Healthy adult dogs sometimes enjoy plain, low-sodium broth—as long as it doesn’t contain onion, garlic, or other unsafe ingredients. Still, water’s the main event, so always keep fresh water out.

Thinking about milk or kefir? Some dogs handle it fine; others don’t—it really depends on your dog and what’s in the drink. Juice, coconut water, and tea aren’t really helpful for hydration. And those human electrolyte drinks? Only offer them if your vet tells you which one to use and how much. If you landed here because your dog’s not drinking or seems off, start by looking up what to do when your dog’s water intake suddenly changes.

Why Give Another Drink at All?

If your dog is healthy and you want to change things up occasionally, refer to the food and ingredient tips below. If your dog isn’t drinking, is vomiting, or acting weird, your vet should be your first call before trying something new.

For the occasional treat, always read both the ingredients and calorie info for the amount you want to give. If your dog’s on a vet-prescribed diet, double-check before offering anything outside the plan. These options are for healthy adult dogs—puppies or dogs with medical issues need different advice.

If you think your dog’s drinking less, don’t panic. Wet food adds water, so the water bowl doesn’t empty as fast. Consider any changes to food and general behavior. Want a weight-based chart for normal water intake? Check out: How can I tell if my dog is getting enough water?

Quick Guide: What Can Dogs Drink Besides Water?

Water should always be available, no matter what else you give. Here’s how the popular alternatives stack up:

Drink—Where It Fits—Biggest Drawback—What to Watch

• Plain, low-sodium broth is an occasional treat, but it contains unsafe ingredients and extra calories; therefore, choose a variety that has no onion or garlic, and be sure to count those calories.
• Milk or kefir (fermented dairy) is optional and can upset digestion, so avoid it if your dog is sensitive to dairy. Don’t use kefir to treat stomach issues.
• Fruit or veggie juice—Not necessary—Ingredients vary a lot—Skip anything with grapes or xylitol. When in doubt, don’t offer it.
• Nut milk—not for hydration—not always safe—double-check the type of nut, sweetener, and additives.
• Coconut water—not needed—Electrolytes don’t mean much—Don’t use it to fix vomiting or diarrhea.
• Herbal tea is generally not recommended due to the wide variety of ingredients; consult your vet about specific blends. Don’t use them as a calming remedy without their advice.
• Human electrolytes/sports drinks—Only with vet direction—Must fit your dog’s needs—Only use the brand and dosage your vet recommends.

Always read the ingredient list. Flashy claims like “high in electrolytes” or “calming tea” might sound appealing, but there’s rarely a good reason to offer them. If you’re not 100% sure what’s in something or why it might help, just stick to water.

Choosing Broth for Treats

Plain broth—chicken, beef, or veggie—is fine if it’s low-sodium and doesn’t have onion, garlic, or other dangerous stuff. Double-check the label. Even veggie broth sometimes includes onion. Even so-called “bone broth” isn’t always safe.

Once you’ve found a safe one, serve it in a separate bowl—no need to pour it in the water. Let your dog decide.

Can Dogs Have Milk or Kefir?

Some dogs can’t handle milk or kefir—they might get diarrhea or gas, even if they’ve had it before. Ingredients matter as much as experience. Goat milk or fermented milk doesn’t automatically improve it.

Honestly, my dog went nuts for kefir, but wow, did he pay for it with gas and diarrhea, especially after sneaking some kefir grains. I waited for him to get used to it, but it just got worse. If your dog’s ever had dairy issues, skip it. Even if not, your dog doesn’t need dairy for hydration. Ignore claims about “probiotic” superpowers in curing stomach troubles. Kefir won’t fix them.

Always Read the Full Ingredient List

Labels can fool you—“natural,” “low sodium,” “no added sugar”—none of those guarantee safety. Turn the package over and read the details.

I’ve messed this up. Grabbed “organic” chicken broth without checking, poured it over my pup’s food, only to spot “onion” as an ingredient. Not my proudest moment.

You might see an ingredient list like water, chicken, carrots, onion powder, and salt.

If you spot onion, garlic, chives, or leeks—raw or powdered—put it back. Cooking won’t make these safe.

If you’re eyeing sweetened drinks, look for xylitol (also called birch sugar). It’s extremely dangerous for dogs. “Sugar-free” isn’t safe by default. If you think your dog got xylitol, call your vet or a poison helpline immediately.

Avoid beverages containing alcohol, caffeine, cocoa/chocolate, or grapes. Sweet doesn’t always mean it’s okay—some ingredients are much worse than others. If you can’t fully confirm what’s inside, don’t take the risk.

Keep Liquid Treats Within Daily Limits

Broth and other flavored drinks with calories still count as treats. WSAVA says treats—including biscuits, chews, and training snacks—should total less than 10% of your dog’s daily calories. That’s for all treats, not each type.

Example: If your vet sets your dog’s daily calories at 500, treats (including liquid ones) need to stay under 50. If your dog gets 20 calories from treats and 10 from broth, that’s 30 calories, or 6%—totally fine.

This is just a ballpark, not a hard and fast rule for your dog. And you never need to “use up” the treat quota. An unsafe ingredient isn’t suddenly safe just because you have calorie room left.

Check how many calories are in the drink. Let’s say it’s labeled “10 kcal per 100 mL”—if you serve 20 mL, that’s 2 kcal (10 x 20 ÷ 100 = 2). Use the numbers on your dog’s actual treat—and measure, don’t guess.

If you can’t find calorie info, ask the company or stick with a familiar treat you know is safe. If you’re ever uncertain, water is the safest option—it never counts against daily treats.

If Your Dog Stops Drinking

If your dog suddenly won’t drink or has vomiting, diarrhea, or low energy, call your vet. Trying something tastier won’t solve the real problem—finding out why your dog won’t drink is what matters.

When you talk to the vet, share how long you’ve noticed these symptoms, any recent changes (like switching from dry to wet food), eating habits, and whether the water bowl’s staying full. Did your dog drink and then throw up? Has peeing or energy changed? If your dog drank something unusual, keep the label and estimate how much.

What happens next depends on your dog. Don’t reach for human sports drinks or try to force your dog to drink.

Always have clean water ready and follow your vet’s advice.