As we all know, without water there is no life! Besides, we can then logically conclude that well-hydrated pets stay healthier. In fact, just like us, our companion animals need it not only to stay alive, but must consume this precious liquid in the right amount. That’s because adequate hydration is an absolute necessity to help protect against illness and disease.
Hydrating Naturally
Water is a vital commodity that regulates body temperature, transports nutrients via the bloodstream, and eliminates waste and toxins. It also supports the organs (including the skin) and assists in every single one of the body’s complex functions.
In the wild, animals need water to maintain their basic body functions and stay strong to survive. They obtain it mostly from the different kinds of foods that they eat. In the case of carnivores, this comes from their prey.
Similarly, adequate hydration boosts pet health. Certainly, the dogs and cats that share our lives should be hydrated to a large extent by the food we give them. However, very often they are not. A diet of dark meat, chicken and fish has an abundance of moisture whereas it is obviously lacking in dry food.
How Much Water To Drink?
In order to be well-hydrated, most dogs should drink between half an ounce and 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight daily.
And when it comes to cats of average size and weight, adequate hydration translates to between 5 and 10 ounces of water per day.
However, there are exceptions. Some pets require greater quantities than these.
- puppies and kittens
- toy breed dogs
- brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds of dogs and cats
- senior dogs and cats
- pets with certain medical conditions
Kitties Are A Little Different. But Who Knew!
When they are thirsty enough, kitties will drink from a water bowl. However, take another look at the photo at the top of this page. As you can tell, felines much prefer the constant trickle of this vital liquid when it comes from a pet water fountain.
To Sum Up
Pets that are well-hydrated generally stay healthier longer. So, if you are drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, then kudos to you. Now, you need to ensure that your companion animals are getting the amount that’s best for them, too.
Together, let’s keep our precious pets healthy, happy and safe!
For more must-read articles on drinking water, check these out.
Water for pets, and water for us: https://petpeevesunmasked.com/do-pets-share-your-drinking-water/
The best water bowls: https://petpeevesunmasked.com/best-pet-food-water-bowls/
As the founder of Clear Conscience Pet and the inventor of SuperGravy, I have been a voice for proper hydration of our companion animals for many years now. The problem is that just putting a lot of water next to a bowl of dry food does not really accomplish natural cellular level hydration the way eating moist food does. If an animal is eating food that has moisture incorporated into it, that moisture is used more effectively by the body rather than being excreted very quickly.
SuperGravy acts as an “interface” between water and kibble, allowing moisture to infuse kibble much more effectively. Adding the SuperGravy mix with water and thoroughly hydrating kibble allows essential moisture to infiltrate the outer layer of kibble for far better digestion. This completely natural CleanLabel product is grain-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and made only some whole food ingredients with no synthetics whatsoever. It’s also very low in calories at less than 20 calories per recommended serving so therefore helps to increase dogs enjoyment tremendously without anywhere near the calories of adding canned food or other products, including people food, to dry kibble. SuperGravy genuinely transforms hard-to-digest dry kibble into a deliciously nutritious moist hydrated meal. Whether or not you use our product, as a 27 year naturally- focused animal nutritionist, I implore you to take this seriously and start hydrating your dogs at the molecular level by feeding moistened food, not just supplying water along with dry food. http://www.SuperGravy. com
Thank you so much, Anthony, for sharing your work. This is a very important benefit for all pets that are fed kibble (dry food) which, obviously, has no hydrating qualities. And, congratulations on all the awards you’ve received for your products.