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I never really had considered giving bottled water to my dog even though I use it for our other pets. Our turtles have to have de-chlorinated water in the tank and the parakeets have to have bottled water in their water dish. Actually though water according to holistic vets is a kind of medicine or at the very least a preventive measure. Vets believe it is one of the best "drugs" for protecting your pet's health. Water does much more for your pet than just keep them from being thirsty. Water helps regulates body temperature, helps improve digestion and lubricates tissue. Water constantly transports oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body and carries away the waste.
Water is an essential part of many treatment plans. Just like in humans if a pet is suffering from constipation they will be encouraged to drink more because water lubricates the digestive tract and helps stools go through their system more easily. Water can also flush away bacteria which causes urinary tract infections. High-water diets are often part of the cure for pets with urinary stones.
It is not only holistic vets that recommend bottled water. Many other animal experts will also say that pets should be given the same quality water as humans: bottled and/or filtered. Municipal and well water can contain bacteria and chemicals which are harmful to pets and people such as (lead, arsenic and benzene), micro bacteria (bacteria, viruses and parasites), and hazardous materials (glass chips and metal fragments). The parasite Giardia, a single-celled organism that ends up living in the mucous lining of the intestines can be in tap water. This parasite can cause diarrhea in animals as well as humans. If a young animal suffering from malnutrition or already ill animal drinks water with the Giardia the effects can be worse.
Also bottled water production is regulated by the FDA which means that the federal government is monitoring the product for any health risks. Drinking water is only watched by the state governments, which means that the quality of drinking water may vary and not be as good as bottled water.
In general most pets like bottled water better than tap and therefore will drink more water which is beneficial to their health. Many pets do not like the taste and smell of chlorine and other chemicals in tap water. Bottled spring water is cheap and readily available. You can buy it in those one gallon containers and many stores have dispensers where you can bring your own container and refill it.
If you want to get your pet to drink more water, add some flavoring. You can add clam juice or some of the water that is left from boiling meat or chicken. Raw vegetable are also good for dogs so add some water rich veggies like cabbage or carrots.
You can also help them get more water in their diet by adding some liquid to their dry food or feeding them moist or canned foods, which contain a lot more water than dry dog food.
Dogs have a very keen sense of smell which makes them sensitive to odors, and plastic water bowls may develop a "bad" smell which you can not get rid of. That smell may discourage your pet from drinking their water. Switch to glass or ceramic bowl to eliminate this problem.
About this Author
Natural care for pets is still a fairly new area for pet owners. There are new ways of thinking concerning vaccines, diet and treatment for illnesses for your pet. Visit Naturesway4Pets and find out more about what is new in veterinary medicine. We also have lots of suggestions on natural cures for common pet problems such as anxiety, fleas and gas. See our post Natural Cures for Dog Itching and skin chewing.
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