You may already have some sort of water filter either in your fridge or attached to your kitchen faucet. Filtering out any contaminants that could be in the tap water seems like a smart idea. But do you provide your dog with filtered water too?
Maybe you just fill up your dog’s bowl with tap water without giving it a second thought. But if you drink filtered water, yourself, doesn’t it stand to reason that you should also give it to your dog?
Here’s why you should start filtering your dog’s water and how to go about it.
What Are The Advantages Of Filtering Your Dog’s Water?
The main benefit of filtering your dog’s water is to get rid of as many contaminants as possible.
Some estimates suggest that there are up to 100 contaminants and types of bacteria that might be present in your tap water. These bacteria can lead to infections and gastrointestinal issues, including frequent diarrhea.
Copper, a potential contaminant in drinking water, has been associated with humans developing kidney and liver issues. Too much copper can cause something known as storage hepatopathy in dogs, which can result in liver damage. Filtering your dog’s water can also help lower the amount of chlorine that your dog might end up ingesting.
Hard water, or water that contains a lot of minerals, can eventually cause stone formation or bladder and urinary tract infections in dogs, especially if the minerals in the water are calcium and magnesium.
How To Start Filtering Your Dog’s Water
Filtering your dog’s water is an easy and cost effective process. The simplest and most economical way to begin filtering your dog’s water is to invest in a water filter. This is much cheaper than using bottled water and is also better for the environment.
Many people store their water filter in the fridge, but this can also result in the water being colder to drink. Some dogs might be averse to this, and it’s been suggested that sometimes cold water can cause a dog to feel bloated. So consider investing in a small water filter for your dog that you can store easily on the countertop.
Don’t forget to stock up on the actual filters that a water filter uses, too. Remember to label when you start using a new filter so you know when to replace it because they become less effective over time.
Ultimately, if you’re filtering your own water for health and safety reasons, you should really be filtering your dog’s water too.
Do you filter your dog’s water? What kind of water filter do you use? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
