Article: Water Water Everywhere - What to Give Pets? Part 1

What's the healthiest water, what kind of bowl and how to encourage your cat, dog or bird to drink more?

By: Thom Williams, Animal Healings, Animal Communication & Animal Reiki Master

With so many choices in water these days, it's really tough to know what's best to give your dog, cat or bird. Our pets are more than family, so we want to give them the best quality of life and the best quality products. However, what really is "the best choice" for pets? Sometimes the fanciest high price waters maybe over processed for an animal's palette or senses and they might not drink the quantity of water they normally would of a less processed form.

Why Quality-Controlled Water is Important

Why is it important pets that get a quality controlled water? Unless you are a skilled animal communicator, a pet will only be able to show you that their water is unsuitable for them by not drinking it or by physical symptoms (such as dehydration or toxicity) when it may be far too late. A human family member can tell you right away “Hey mom, dad, something doesn't taste right with the water!“

Just like us, pets of all species, dogs, cats, birds, lizards, - even fish need plenty of hydration. How much? There are a lot of factors to and consider, like the season and temperature, body weight and breed. Some breeds are natural "water loving" breeds and are attracted to it for play, bathing and consumption.

Water can be the most important and possibly most overlooked nutrient of any animal's diet As for hydration needs, too little water and pets can suffer from things like muscle loss, kidney stones and tooth decay. As dehydration worsens, it leads to massive organ failure and possibly death.Too much water, seen in obsessive compulsive cases (like OCD - compulsive faucet drinkers, sprinkler chasers, etc.) and you'll see those pets suffer from stomach bloat, electrolyte issues, and water toxicity, among other issues. Pets that become sudden "over-drinkers" need to see the vet right away. This can be associated with a number of functional issues, that caught sooner than later can be treated much easier.

Compulsive Sink Drinking

Compulsive sink drinking, while cute and in some rare cases can get out of hand and be dangerous for the cat's health.

Generally dogs need an average of one half an ounce to a full ounce of water, per pound of body weight, per day in addition to the moisture in their diet. Dogs on a dry food only diet obviously require much more water since dry food contains approximately 10% moisture/water, where wet food is 80% water.

Watch a YouTube video of pets drinking from a sink.

Cats, much like dogs, will depend on the type of food they eat. Wet or dry food can make a significant difference in the amount of water for cats. Dry food only cats need a significant amount of water over their wet food eating counterparts. Weather too is highly significant for all cats, especially for long haired breeds

Birds need quality water.,” Most birds are known to be able to live a lot longer without food than it can without water (by no means should you leave your bird without food .) According to Birdchannel.com, birds need to replace 5 percent of their body weight in water, to equal what is lost each day in waste, respiration and normal evaporation. Higher activity on hotter days of course means more water lost and needs replacing.

When Drinking Habits Change...

Always take note when your pets drinking habits change dramatically, whether it happens quickly or over a longer period of time. This is one of the first indications of many diseases and functional issues. Any sudden and major changes should require a vet visit.

Tap water goes through a treatment facility where bacteria, excess minerals, etc., are filtered out and while that water will probably be safe for both you and your pets in most circumstances, many communities are having water emergencies.

If you are on well water you should closely monitor it for excessive amount of minerals from the ground which gives you what's called. “Hard water." This usually has a very strong odor and tastes to humans and pets, in extreme cases smells like sulfur or rotten eggs and it can be potentially harmful due to iron and other hard minerals can affect kidney function and other organs over the long term. Lead is also commonly found is hard water situations and can affect certain species of dogs, cats and birds more than others.

Water Water Everywhere - Pets Water Article - Continued Next Page

Hear your pets - heal your pets ™

Testimonials