“How much water is your dog drinking,?’’asked the vet.

“Uhhhh, I don’t know.’’ Was my stunningly brilliant answer.

Since that exchange with the vet, I have mended my ways. I now make sure to refill the water dish every morning. That helps me keep tabs on the Beagle’s water intake and get further insights into her health. And it reminds me to wash her bowl every day to get rid of any bacteria

On the average, a healthy dog drinks about 1/2 to 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day. So a healthy-sized Beagle will chug about a pint every day, especially because it’s the summer and especially because she eats dry food.

If your dog is drinking more than that, ask your vet about the chances of her having diabetes or Cushing’s disease. If she is drinking much water, it could be signs of kidney problems or cancer.

So keep an eye on that water bowl – and no matter what the dog thinks, the toilet is not an acceptable alternative to the water bowl.