You may think dehydration in your pet is something only to worry about during the hotter months, however, it’s important to be aware of the risks all year round.
All animals are at risk of dehydration if they don’t eat or drink enough. While we’re made up of around 60 per cent water, it constitutes 80 per cent of a pet’s body, making fluid replenishment and hydration even more essential to their overall health.
So how much water do pets need? The answer is more than you might think; they require 70 ml of water daily for every 1 kg of body weight, equivalent to 1.75 litres for a 25kg medium sized dog.
If pets are not adequately hydrated, they cannot pant or sweat efficiently, putting them at risk of overheating. Signs of dehydration in pets include sunken eyes, lethargy, loss of appetite, a dry mouth and depression.
Global pet company PetSafe® Brand has outlined the following useful tips to help educate pet owners about the importance of proper hydration and get pets drinking more:
- Add water to pets’ food – pet food, (especially kibble) has a very low moisture content.
- Add flavour to pets’ water – adding meat broth to their water will encourage them to drink more.
- Keep pets cool – in the hotter months keep them in the shade and avoid leaving them in parked cars. If you suspect they’re too hot, soak their coats in cool water.
- Invest in a pet water fountain – the continuous, fresh supply of running water provides a more natural way for pets to drink and is the ideal solution for those who don’t think their pet is getting enough water or are unable to refresh the water bowl as often as needed.
Drinkwell® Pet Fountains by PetSafe® Brand provide a clean supply of fresh, great-tasting water, giving pets a reason to drink more to stay hydrated and healthy. Recent additions to its range include a new family of three fountains, offering different sizes of the same design to cater to a range of pet households. The new Drinkwell® fountains are available in the following sizes: 7.5 Litres, 3.7 Litres and 1.8 Litres and feature a free-falling water stream with adjustable flow control so you can tailor the water flow rate to your furry friend’s needs. You can also customise the free-falling stream from nearly silent circulation on the lowest setting to a tranquil stream on the highest.
The fountains have a replaceable foam filter to catch hair and debris and the replaceable charcoal filter removes bad tastes and odours from the water. The Drinkwell® 7.5 Litre Pet Fountain is perfect for big dog hydration and homes with multiple pets as the square design makes it large enough for several pets to drink out of at the same time with minimal splashing.
For more information on Drinkwell® Pet Fountains and the full PetSafe® Brand range visit www.petsafe.com/UK.
