{
  "generated": "2026-07-08",
  "notes": "fits_length_in is null where no manufacturer/retailer source published a dog-length range for that crate size; only weight ranges were sourced for length. Do not infer or fabricate length ranges.",
  "crates": [
    { "brand": "MidWest Homes for Pets", "line": "iCrate", "size_in": 18, "fits_weight_lbs": [0, 10], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Divider-Protecting-Leak-Proof/dp/B000TZ59ES" },
    { "brand": "MidWest Homes for Pets", "line": "iCrate", "size_in": 22, "fits_weight_lbs": [0, 15], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Divider-Protecting-Leak-Proof/dp/B000TZ73BA" },
    { "brand": "MidWest Homes for Pets", "line": "iCrate", "size_in": 24, "fits_weight_lbs": [12, 20], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Divider-Protecting-Leak-Proof/dp/B000OX89VK" },
    { "brand": "MidWest Homes for Pets", "line": "iCrate", "size_in": 30, "fits_weight_lbs": [21, 40], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Divider-Protecting-Leak-Proof/dp/B000OXAERM" },
    { "brand": "MidWest Homes for Pets", "line": "iCrate", "size_in": 36, "fits_weight_lbs": [41, 70], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Protecting-Leak-Proof-Intermediate/dp/B000OXAES6" },
    { "brand": "MidWest Homes for Pets", "line": "iCrate", "size_in": 42, "fits_weight_lbs": [71, 90], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Divider-Protecting-Leak-Proof/dp/B000OX64P8" },
    { "brand": "MidWest Homes for Pets", "line": "iCrate", "size_in": 48, "fits_weight_lbs": [90, 110], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Folding-Divider-Protecting-Leak-Proof/dp/B000OX89XI" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Vari Kennel", "size_in": 19, "fits_weight_lbs": [0, 10], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-vari-kennel" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Vari Kennel", "size_in": 24, "fits_weight_lbs": [10, 20], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-vari-kennel" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Vari Kennel", "size_in": 28, "fits_weight_lbs": [25, 30], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-vari-kennel" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Vari Kennel", "size_in": 32, "fits_weight_lbs": [30, 50], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-vari-kennel" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Vari Kennel", "size_in": 36, "fits_weight_lbs": [50, 70], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-vari-kennel" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Vari Kennel", "size_in": 40, "fits_weight_lbs": [70, 90], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-vari-kennel" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Sky Kennel", "size_in": 21, "fits_weight_lbs": [0, 15], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-sky-kennel-1" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Sky Kennel", "size_in": 28, "fits_weight_lbs": [25, 30], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-sky-kennel-1" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Sky Kennel", "size_in": 32, "fits_weight_lbs": [30, 50], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-sky-kennel-1" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Sky Kennel", "size_in": 36, "fits_weight_lbs": [50, 70], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-sky-kennel-1" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Sky Kennel", "size_in": 40, "fits_weight_lbs": [70, 90], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-sky-kennel-1" },
    { "brand": "Petmate", "line": "Sky Kennel", "size_in": 48, "fits_weight_lbs": [90, 125], "fits_length_in": null, "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/products/petmate-sky-kennel-1" }
  ],
  "sizing_rule": {
    "measurement": "nose to base of tail (length); top of head to floor/ground while standing (height)",
    "variants": [
      {
        "source": "MidWest Homes for Pets (official)",
        "add_inches_length": null,
        "add_inches_height": null,
        "quote": "measure your dog's length from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail, then add a few inches to allow for comfortable movement...measure from the top of their head to the ground while they're standing upright, and again, add a few inches for clearance",
        "source_url": "https://www.midwesthomes4pets.com/resources/cratesizing/"
      },
      {
        "source": "Petmate (official, Petmate Academy)",
        "add_inches_length": 3.5,
        "add_inches_height": 3.5,
        "add_inches_range": [3, 4],
        "quote": "The height of the kennel should be 3-4 inches taller and longer than your pet so there's ample space to fully stand up, easily turn around and comfortably lie all the way down",
        "source_url": "https://www.petmate.com/blogs/petmate-academy/choosing-the-right-kennel-for-your-dog"
      },
      {
        "source": "Chewy (major retailer)",
        "add_inches_length": 4,
        "add_inches_height": 4,
        "quote": "A good rule is to add four inches to both their height and their length measurements.",
        "source_url": "https://www.chewy.com/education/dog/general/what-size-crate-does-my-dog-need-how-to-measure"
      }
    ],
    "excluded_sources": [
      { "source": "Petco sizing guide", "reason": "HTTP 403 on fetch, could not verify", "url": "https://www.petco.com/content/content-hub/home/articlePages/pet-guides/dog-crates-guide.html" },
      { "source": "PetSmart sizing chart", "reason": "HTTP 403 on fetch, could not verify", "url": "https://www.petsmart.com/learning-center/dog-care/dog-crate-size-chart-finding-the-perfect-fit" }
    ]
  },
  "water": {
    "figures": [
      { "value": 1, "unit": "oz/lb/day", "attribution": "PetMD, reviewed by Jennifer Larsen DVM PhD DACVN", "source_url": "https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_the_importance_of_water" },
      { "value": 1, "unit": "oz/lb/day", "attribution": "Hill's Pet Nutrition, Dr. Sarah Wooten DVM", "source_url": "https://www.hillspet.com/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/how-much-water-should-dogs-and-cats-drink" },
      { "value": [50, 80], "unit": "mL/kg/day", "attribution": "Whole Dog Journal, attributed to internal medicine specialist consensus for healthy adult dogs at rest", "source_url": "https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/how-much-water-should-your-dog-drink/" },
      { "value": [44, 66], "unit": "mL/kg/day", "attribution": "Merck (MSD) Veterinary Manual, Maintenance Fluid Plan in Animals (general thermoneutral mammalian water requirement, not dog-specific)", "source_url": "https://www.merckvetmanual.com/therapeutics/fluid-therapy/maintenance-fluid-plan-in-animals" },
      { "value": null, "unit": "mL/24hr formula", "formula": "30 * body_weight_kg + 70", "applicable_range_kg": [2, 70], "attribution": "Merck (MSD) Veterinary Manual, Maintenance Fluid Plan in Animals — clinical maintenance-fluid formula, not a healthy-daily-drinking figure", "source_url": "https://www.merckvetmanual.com/therapeutics/fluid-therapy/maintenance-fluid-plan-in-animals" },
      { "value": [20, 70], "unit": "mL/kg/day", "attribution": "Vet Specialists Ltd (UK veterinary referral practice) polydipsia fact sheet", "source_url": "https://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/polydipsia-in-dogs-and-cats-increased-drinking-fact-sheet/" },
      { "value": [40, 60], "unit": "mL/kg/day", "attribution": "American Kennel Club (AKC) health content", "source_url": "https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/why-is-my-dog-drinking-so-much-water/" }
    ],
    "disagreement_note": "Published 'normal' daily intake ranges from 20 mL/kg/day (Vet Specialists low end) to 80 mL/kg/day (Whole Dog Journal high end) -- roughly a 4x spread. No primary peer-reviewed study was found in this pack; the Merck/MSD figures are the most clinically rigorous but are formula-based for fluid therapy, not stated as a healthy-pet daily-drinking guideline. The commonly cited ~1 oz/lb/day (~62.5 mL/kg/day) consumer figure falls within most ranges but exceeds the Vet Specialists and AKC upper bounds slightly.",
    "dehydration_signs": [
      { "sign": "Lethargy and reduced energy", "source_url": "https://www.hillspet.com/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/how-much-water-should-dogs-and-cats-drink" },
      { "sign": "Sunken or dull eyes", "source_url": "https://www.hillspet.com/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/how-much-water-should-dogs-and-cats-drink" },
      { "sign": "Sticky or rope-like saliva", "source_url": "https://www.hillspet.com/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/how-much-water-should-dogs-and-cats-drink" },
      { "sign": "Darker, dry gums", "source_url": "https://www.hillspet.com/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/how-much-water-should-dogs-and-cats-drink" },
      { "sign": "Reduced skin elasticity (skin tents when pinched)", "source_url": "https://www.hillspet.com/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/how-much-water-should-dogs-and-cats-drink" },
      { "sign": "Strong-smelling, dark yellow urine", "source_url": "https://www.hillspet.com/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/how-much-water-should-dogs-and-cats-drink" },
      { "sign": "Skin turgor test: skin returns slowly or stays tented after pinching", "source_url": "https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_the_importance_of_water" },
      { "sign": "Gums dry, sticky, or pale", "source_url": "https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_the_importance_of_water" },
      { "sign": "Dry, sunken eyeballs", "source_url": "https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_the_importance_of_water" },
      { "sign": "Dry nose and mouth", "source_url": "https://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_the_importance_of_water" }
    ],
    "overdrinking_flags": [
      {
        "threshold": "> 100 mL/kg/day",
        "label": "polydipsia -- call your vet",
        "source_url": "https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/why-is-my-dog-drinking-so-much-water/"
      },
      {
        "threshold": "> 100 mL/kg/day definitive; 60-100 mL/kg/day is a grey zone requiring baseline comparison",
        "label": "polydipsia thresholds",
        "source_url": "https://www.vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/polydipsia-in-dogs-and-cats-increased-drinking-fact-sheet/"
      }
    ],
    "associated_red_flag_conditions": {
      "conditions": ["diabetes mellitus", "diabetes insipidus", "Cushing's syndrome", "kidney disease", "liver disease", "cancer", "fever/infection"],
      "source_urls": [
        "https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/why-is-my-dog-drinking-so-much-water/",
        "https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/how-much-water-should-your-dog-drink/"
      ]
    },
    "acute_risk_note": {
      "note": "Rapid over-ingestion of water can cause hyponatremia (staggering, lethargy, excessive salivation) and, in large-breed dogs, contributes to gastric bloat risk.",
      "source_url": "https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/health/how-much-water-should-your-dog-drink/"
    }
  },
  "excluded_or_unverifiable": [
    { "item": "VCA Animal Hospitals thirst/urination page -- no numeric threshold or dehydration list published", "url": "https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/testing-for-increased-thirst-and-urination" },
    { "item": "2024 AAHA Fluid Therapy Guidelines PDF -- fetched but returned unparseable binary content; no figure could be confirmed", "url": "https://24051120.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/24051120/Guidelines%20PDFs/2024%20Fluid%20Therapy/2024%20AAHA%20Fluid%20Therapy%20Guidelines-1.pdf" }
  ]
}