The Power of Hydration 🐶
Hello, and welcome.
While we’re focussed on the topic of water, I thought I’d start with why water is so important for our dogs from a physical perspective, ensuring their emotional wellbeing.
Water is the elixir of life, not only for us humans but also for our canine friends. Beyond quenching thirst, water plays a crucial role in maintaining your dog's overall well-being, impacting their behaviour, neurological functions, and physical health in many ways.
Water helps to carry important nutrients around the body, it aids digestion and regulates body temperature, among other things. From a brain perspective, water can help improve cognitive function and even mood-state.
Dehydration can lead to fatigue, muscle cramps, and even heatstroke. Dehydration can reduce our dog’s ability to focus - making them appear less alert. It can also induce a stress response - something we definitely want to avoid in our more anxious dogs.
It’s important to understand how diet can impact the amount of water your dog requires. Dry, kibble-based diets are limited to approx 7% moisture to stay fresh in bags on the shelf, whereas a cooked or raw meat diet may contain up to around 75% water content. This is why, generally, dogs being fed a fresh-food diet drink less regularly from their water bowl.
If you’re looking to do one small thing to improve your dog’s wellbeing today - that can be as simple as providing regular fresh, filtered water for them to enjoy. Prioritise hydration, and you’ll be helping to promote behavioural balance in your dog as well as them feeling their physical best.
Until next time, stay hydrated!
Caroline