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Even after taking the best care of your dog, something really
mundane and routine might have escaped your notice – are you
giving him the right water to drink? In your mind, you probably
don’t give much thought before filling his bowl with tap water
but here’s why you should think it over.
Most Vets Don’t Recommend It
Take the doctor’s word and be more watchful of what you are
feeding your dog. If the water is not deemed fit for your
drinking, it couldn’t be very different for him as well. The vets
echo the same sentiment and recommend that you rather give your
pets pure water in order to avoid water-borne diseases and other
problems.
You Can Never Be Sure About The Tap Water
It might be possible that the running water in your home might be
fit for consumption for the dog and hasn’t caused any troubles in
the past. However, that doesn’t necessarily translates to it
being disease-proof and infection-free at all times. Most of the
homes get tap water from the Municipality in their homes, and one
can never vouch for the quality unless it’s tested on a regular
basis. If you must, give them the tap water after getting it
tested for any sort of odor or contamination. You can also get
your tap water treated by adding chemicals that free it of any
sort of virus or bacteria.Apart from this, the consumption of tap
water might turn really hazardous if there’s a broken pipeline or
some trouble at the source. Your unsuspecting dog might just
contact a disorder and this could even affect his immunity. So
you need to be careful of something as basic as water
consumption. Keep a check on the water supply in your area.
Sometimes, the water doesn’t get treated properly even after
filtration.
It Doesn’t Take Much To Give Them Pure Water But Makes A
Lot Of Difference
To keep your dog safe and be sure about his well-being, just pour
him the water you drink, every time. It doesn’t take a great deal
and is an extremely easy habit to adopt, but it will keep you
free of any worries surrounding your dog’s health.You can also
give them bottled water if you want. But in that case, you need
to be absolutely sure of its purity and its quality. If you think
this might not be reliable, since sometimes there’s no way to
check the bottled water’s content, the simplest way to is to give
them the water you drink.However, maintain a balance and make
sure your dog’s immunity isn’t much affected by it. He should be
able to digest normal water too in case you’re traveling.
5 things you didn’t know about feeding unclean water to your pet
(beware!)
Pets have the habit of gobbling anything that crosses their path
unsuspectingly. Insects, food crumbs that fall on the floor, and
beverages that gets spilled on the floor are a few things they
eat. There was a study in 2011 conducted by NSF International
that looked at the dirtiest, germiest, and grimiest places in
households. Guess what came in fourth place? The pet’s water
bowls. The water bowl is probably the most neglected at home. We
are all guilty of topping off the water bowl for your pet when it
is almost empty. Have you ever wondered the impact it will have
on their health and well-being? Here are 5 things you didn’t know
about feeding unclean water to your pets.
- Serratia Marcescens – You would have seen this bacteria
before. It is commonly known as the pink stuff. You know what
this dreaded bacteria can do? It can cause infections and
pneumonia. You definitely don’t want your dog catching any of
that, do you? It's difficult to take them to the vet as it is.
- Bisphenol A – Using a plastic bowl for your pet? Bad idea,
especially if you don’t clean it every day. Bisphenol is a
carcinogen and it leaches into the water. It will break down
further in the dishwasher. This is extremely harmful to your
pets.
- Salmonella – This sneaky little germ is harmful to both
humans and pets. If you are feeding meat to your pets, it is
common to find them. They can cause a variety of implications
which can severely impact the health of your pet.
- E. Coli – This deadly bacteria can be present in the water
bowl of your pets if you don’t clean it regularly. The effects on
your pet can be devastating as it causes lethargy, vomiting,
dehydration, lack of appetite, and depression to name a few.
- Cyanobacteria – It is toxic to your pets, period. The level
of toxicity is generally moderate to severe. It is commonly found
in lakes, ponds, and streams. If you don’t clean the water bowl
regularly, the chances of having cyanobacteria growing in the
water bowl are increased. They can cause difficulty in breathing,
shock, coma, blood in stool, jaundice, seizures, to name a few.
There aren’t any antidotes for the toxins produced by this deadly
bacteria.
You would have also noticed a slimy layer on the water. It is
called biofilm and it is a collection of living and dead
material. Bacteria find it easy to stick on to it. Clean your
pet's bowls regularly. Use hot water to clean them thoroughly and
to ensure it is sterilized. Use detergents and an abrasive sponge
to release any organic material which might get stuck on the
sides. You can also use a combination of baking soda, salt, and
warm water to clean the bowl. Also, remember that pets are
sensitive to smells and chemicals, so avoid using too much
detergent.
