Water and Pet Health

The ASPCA lists water as the most important nutrient for healthy pets.

Specific health conditions related to poor hydration and water quality:

• Dehydration
• Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease
• Osteosarcoma (form of bone disease)
• Renal failure (kidney disease)

Click here to read the ASPCA article...

How much water does my pet need?

In general terms, pets will drink as much water as their bodies require. That assumes that a sufficient supply is always available. Unfortunately, an adequate supply of fresh water is not always available causing pets to over compensate by drinking large/excessive quantities when their bowl is refilled. More troublesome, pets will seek alternate supplies such as toilets, pools, puddles and garden fountains. While many of us may find this cute or amusing, it is, in fact, dangerous to your pets’ health. The risk associated with bacterial infection is clear, pets drinking from these sources are also consuming toxic chemicals and cleaners.

To answer the question of “how much water does my pet need” in a practical manner, we’ll use a basic guideline cited by the American Animal Hospital Association and put (AAHA):

For Pets eating a dry food diet:

1 ounce of water per pound of body weight per day
Example: a 64 pound dog will drink approximately 64 ounces (2 quarts) of water per day.

Pets eating canned food:

0.8 ounces of water per pound of body weight per day
Example: a 64 pound dog will drink approximately 51 ounces of water per day.

Note that other factors will affect water consumption including:

• Age (puppies/kittens need more water than adult pets)
• Some prescription medications
• Activity level
• Climate
  

Click here for more information about supplying water to your pet...

Excerpt from the American Animal Hospital Association Article on Water:

"Many loving, good-hearted pet owners spend a lot of time and energy making sure their pet has a healthy diet, considering brands, comparing labels, debating moist-versus-dry, and consulting their veterinarian. In all the hubbub, they sometimes forget that an ever-present bowl of clean water may be the most important part of their pet's diet.

Why is it important? In pets, as in people, water makes up the majority of the body about 80 percent. By allowing substances to dissolve and be carried through the body, it provides a basis for nearly all of the processes and chemical reactions that keep the body running, including digestion and circulation. It helps the body to filter out waste, and it regulates body temperature through evaporation. Dehydration, a lack of water in the body, can cause serious problems, including kidney and heart damage."

Click here to read the complete article...