What are the best fluids that a dog can ingest? Water should be part of any pet's regimen, as it provides the hydration that they need from day to day. However, curious pet owners may want to know if other drinks can be given, like juice, tea, and even coffee. Before you pop open a tea bottle or juice carton, keep the following information in the back of your mind. It can make all the difference when it comes to your pet's quality of life.
As any animal care specialist, Assisi Animal Health included, will tell you, water is the most important thing that a dog can be given. While it's needed to keep canines hydrated, it helps with maintaining bodily functions and preventing illness as well. Furthermore, it's been said that, on a daily basis, this animal will consume approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of their body weight. This should give you a general understanding of what's seen as a safe quantity.
Before we move onto other liquids, toilet water should be discussed as well. On the surface, you may not think that a dog drinking out of the toilet is a concern, since these animals have been known to do it in the past. The truth of the matter is that toilet water is still unclean, containing parasites and bacteria that can cause their own problems down the road. For new pet owners, make sure that your dogs know to only drink from their own bowls.
Now that you know that water is important for dogs, provided it's clean, you may want to know if other fluids can be given. At first glance, you might think that fruit juice is safe, given the fact that it usually contains numerous vitamins and minerals. The problem with this, however, is that many juices contain considerable amounts of sugar, which are unconducive to a dog's wellbeing. Juice is fine in small doses, provided sugar isn't a concern, but it's not as effective as water for hydration.
Caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, and soda should be touched upon, too. While we may enjoy these from time to time, they should never be given to dogs. Caffeine works differently in dogs than it does in humans, seeing as how the former can't break it down like the latter can. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be far-fetched for a dog to consume a small amount coffee, only to experience high blood pressure. This is just one of many reasons why caffeine is a dietary no-no for canines.
As any animal care specialist, Assisi Animal Health included, will tell you, water is the most important thing that a dog can be given. While it's needed to keep canines hydrated, it helps with maintaining bodily functions and preventing illness as well. Furthermore, it's been said that, on a daily basis, this animal will consume approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of their body weight. This should give you a general understanding of what's seen as a safe quantity.
Before we move onto other liquids, toilet water should be discussed as well. On the surface, you may not think that a dog drinking out of the toilet is a concern, since these animals have been known to do it in the past. The truth of the matter is that toilet water is still unclean, containing parasites and bacteria that can cause their own problems down the road. For new pet owners, make sure that your dogs know to only drink from their own bowls.
Now that you know that water is important for dogs, provided it's clean, you may want to know if other fluids can be given. At first glance, you might think that fruit juice is safe, given the fact that it usually contains numerous vitamins and minerals. The problem with this, however, is that many juices contain considerable amounts of sugar, which are unconducive to a dog's wellbeing. Juice is fine in small doses, provided sugar isn't a concern, but it's not as effective as water for hydration.
Caffeinated beverages such as tea, coffee, and soda should be touched upon, too. While we may enjoy these from time to time, they should never be given to dogs. Caffeine works differently in dogs than it does in humans, seeing as how the former can't break it down like the latter can. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be far-fetched for a dog to consume a small amount coffee, only to experience high blood pressure. This is just one of many reasons why caffeine is a dietary no-no for canines.
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