Why Dies a Dog Drink Continually
Having a dog is a huge responsibility, and part of that responsibility is making sure that your dog is not consuming anything that could be potentially dangerous for them. When you think of your dog ingesting something toxic, it's probably a food or product that comes to mind, like chocolate.
But did you know there are plenty of beverages that your dog should avoid, too? It's true—and in order to ensure that you are giving your furry friend the right care, you should avoid these drinks at all costs.
Humans enjoy many drinks besides water, so it's completely understandable that you might be wondering what other liquids you can give your pet dog to drink. Nevertheless, we encourage you to be mindful that dogs are physiologically different from humans and have different care requirements. In other words, just because a glass of rosé is safe for you to enjoy doesn't mean your golden retriever can drink it too.
Today, we are going to provide you with information about some beverages that your dog can drink aside from water because, let's face it, sometimes we all crave variety.
To begin, we'll share why proper hydration is crucial for your pet dog. Afterward, we will dive into the things that your dog can—and can't—drink aside from water. It is just as important to know what to avoid as it is to know what is safe.
Why Is Proper Hydration Crucial For Your Dog?
To call "proper hydration" crucial for canines would be an understatement. There's a range of reasons why proper hydration can help your dog with a variety of bodily functions. When you give your dog fresh, clean water, you are helping ensure that their body is able to properly complete these essential functions.
Of course, it's a commonly known fact that water is essential for all living creatures to survive. While humans are capable of going about a week with no water, dogs, which are considerably smaller, can only last for about three days without water. It's absolutely crucial your dog always knows there is fresh, safe water available to them.
If your dog doesn't like drinking water, there are a few things that you can do to get them to do so. We recommend that you give them a few cubes of ice. These can help them get hydrated, not to mention cool them down during the summer.
Keeping your dog hydrated is also important because doing so can help ward off any potential health issues that might arise as a result of dehydration. You know what they say: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Now, let's dive into some of the reasons why proper hydration is completely essential for your canine companion.
Water Is Necessary For Your Dog To Maintain Their Normal Body Temperature
Did you know that dogs need water in order to successfully regulate body temperature? This is true. The main way that dogs are able to maintain their temperature is through panting.
They don't sweat in the same way that humans do (though panting can perhaps be viewed as a dog's way of sweating). Nevertheless, on hot days, dogs sweat through their paws: consider this the limited sweating your dog does.
When your dog is panting, their tongue nearly doubles in size. This is designed to help make the evaporation of water occur more quickly. Ultimately, this allows the dog to cool off faster.
Water Can Help Move Nutrients and Release Both Toxins and Waste
Water is a large component of blood, and blood is responsible for carrying nutrients and oxygen through your dog's body. Therefore, it's the water's job to help move those valuable nutrients around so that all of your pup's organs and muscles get the nutrients that they need. That's not where water's job ends, however. Water also assists with the removal of waste.
Water Ensures Your Dog Doesn't Become Dehydrated
Dog dehydration is never good, to put it simply. Water exits your pet's body through panting, fecal matter, sweating, urination. Therefore, it must be replaced. Dogs aren't able to replenish water reserves at the same pace humans are capable of, so you'll need to be careful to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
Water Helps With Digestion
Did you know that for dogs, water plays a crucial role in digestion? It's true. Water allows animals to be able to break down the food they ingest. After that, it even assists them with the absorption of the minerals contained.
That's not everything water is capable of. It also helps with the secretions of enzymes and the acid needed to complete the digestive process in its entirety.
What Can—And Can't—Dogs Drink Besides Water?
We want to be abundantly clear: the number one thing that you can give your dog to drink is, in fact, water. There really is no better beverage of choice. This is due to the fact that water is responsible for assisting a myriad of bodily functions in your dog.
That being said, if you are looking for alternatives, there are some that you should know about as potential green lights and those that you should avoid at all costs.
Learn more about these by reading on.
Fresh Fruit Juice Is Okay For Dogs In Small Quantities
Yes, you can provide your dog with a very small amount of whole fruit juice. But beware! This is certainly not as good as fresh water for your pet. You can provide them with whole apple juice or orange juice–just be sure there's never any added sugar or artificial colors. You want it to be as authentic as possible for your dog.
Still, we think you should stick to the water and give them a slice of apple instead. Fresh juice can make your dog intake too much sugar, so be cautious about this. You can even water the whole juice down to help keep your dog healthy.
Bone Broth
Bone broth is a liquid that is usually quite safe for dogs to lap up. This super liquid is amazing at doling out some minerals and vitamins. Your dog might enjoy a little bit poured over their kibble.
Bone broth can help with bone and joint strength. If you can't make your own bone broth, just be sure to avoid any store-bought mixtures that have onion powder (onions are notoriously dangerous to dogs)
Gatorade Is Not Okay For Dogs
Gatorade, packed with electrolytes, can prove to be harmful to a pet. If the drink has mineral or vitamin additions for humans, your best bet is to avoid it. Your dog can only have a certain amount of these at a time, and they already get it through their food.
In addition, Gatorade is sugary, and especially if your dog is diabetic, this could prove hazardous. Besides, Gatorade features artificial coloring, which isn't the best for your dog's urinary tract or other bodily systems.
Milk Is Not Recommended For Dogs
Milk is not a great addition to your pet dog's diet. This is because a lot of dogs are actually lactose intolerant. (Yes, this also means you should ensure that your pup's kibble is dairy-free.) Contrary to popular myth, your cat should also avoid lactose.
Not only can milk upset your dog's digestive system, but it can also make them feel rather unwell. Sometimes they might feel so poorly that they can even throw up. Of course, this depends on the dog, and some will react worse than others. Nevertheless, your best bet is to avoid feeding your dog milk.
Tea and Coffee are Not Recommended For Dogs
Humans love our caffeine fixes, but for dogs, even a few sips of a caffeinated beverage can prove dangerous. Caffeine can be toxic to dogs, and since they're so much smaller than we are, a seemingly tiny sip could be detrimental. For that reason, avoid coffee, tea, and other caffeinated drinks (yes, that includes fizzy and sports drinks).
If you are concerned that your pup accidentally snagged some caffeine, look out for the following symptoms. If your dog exhibits any or all of them, reach out to a vet ASAP!
- Agitation
- A racing pulse
- Vomiting
- Hyperactivity
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Restlessness
- Panting
- Tremors
- Seizures
Hydrated and Happy
We understand the temptation to give your dog something besides water. After all, there are so many delicious beverages out there, and it's a shame to think that your dog won't ever be able to enjoy your iced coffee on a 90-degree day! But trust us: it's so much better to give your dog fresh water (or an ice cube in addition if you want to have some fun).
Making sure your dog is properly hydrated is a task, but it's a worthwhile one. After all, a well-hydrated dog is often a healthy one. Give your dog's body the support it deserves, and always be sure that your dog has access to fresh, clean water. It's simply one of the most simple and best things that you can do for your pet.
SOURCES:
What Can Dogs Drink Besides Water? Six Common Questions | Vet Info
What Type of Water Alternatives Can Dogs Have? | Dogster
Why You Should Feed Your Dog Bone Broth | Animal Behavior College
Source: https://www.reference.com/pets-animals/what-can-dogs-drink-besides-water?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740005%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex&ueid=114087c2-d5c6-4af4-84c2-1554253d2fa7
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