Are Your Pets Drinking Quality Water?
Water is essential for life. All life. This includes people, plants, and yes, even your pets. We all know that water makes up at least 70% of the human body and being properly hydrated helps ensure that our body is reaching peak performance. The same is true for our canine and feline friends. Water makes up 70-80% of a cat or dog’s body. Proper hydration helps ensure their skin and fur stay healthy. It helps keep their joints lubricated and their bodies functioning as they should. Their bodily functions that rely on proper hydration are their temperature staying regulated; their brain, internal organs, and spinal cord are cushioned; and their cognitive function is up to snuff!
Dehydration symptoms in pets are very similar to the ones in people. Signs of dehydration in pets can include:
- Sunken Eyes
- Lack of Energy and Tiredness
- Excessive Panting
- Loss of Appetite
- Dry Nose and Gums
Water is key for your pet’s health. But, what type of water should you use to fill the bowl? Is tap water safe? Whether your home has municipal water or well water, you always make sure your human family is drinking good, quality water. The same should hold true for your fur-family.
The Importance of Filtered Water
When contaminants affect the taste of water, it may cause concern and most people’s first solution is to drink bottled water or filtered water.
Bottled water can appear to be a great choice, but as time passes, we know it’s not always all it’s cracked up to be. Purchasing bottled water is a cost that keeps rising, and there are unknowns when it comes to the quality of the water you are drinking. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations given to packing and selling bottled water mean that the water you’re buying may not be any safer than the water coming from the tap in your house. Plus, it’s really easy to grab a bottle for yourself or pack one away in your children’s backpack, but do you crack a new bottle to fill Fido and Fluffy’s bowl?
Whatever the reason you’re choosing to not drink your tap water, your pets probably agree with you! Harsh chemicals or heavy metals, like lead, aren’t good to drink no matter what your species.
Filtered water removes the contaminants that can cause a metallic taste, foul odors, and can cause you and your pets to potentially get sick. We have all heard about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where lead was found to have contaminated the city’s water supply. Lead does not typically show up in water naturally. It infiltrates water as it passes through lead pipes, joints soldered with lead, and lead in faucets that can be found in either the city’s infrastructure or even inside your home if it was built before 1985 . Both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) state that drinking lead can cause harmful health effects on people. For pets, it can also cause a range of symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, pain, and lethargy. Long term exposure to lead can even bring on seizures and an unsteady gait in our furry friends.
Veterinarians agree, it is just as important for Fido and Fluffy to stay hydrated as it is for the rest of your human family. And, it is just as important for your pets to have the same high quality, good drinking water that the rest of your family enjoys.
How to Provide Filtered Water for Your Entire Family
Luckily, we have an easier solution than stocking up on more cases of bottled water for Fido. As an authorized WaterCare dealer, we can install a Reverse Osmosis drinking water filter that is certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) for the reduction of lead and many other harmful contaminants. You can enjoy the convenience of filling up your glass (or bowl) straight from the tap with water you can trust is safe for your family.
If you are concerned about the quality of your water, contact us today! Our technicians can test your water and create a custom-tailored solution to combat any contaminants found. With our full line of advanced water filters from WaterCare, we have the answer for you.