How Safe Is Tap Water for Your Dog?

Many of us are fortunate enough to enjoy the company of man's best friend. We are always thinking of what is best for our four-legged friends.

We try to give our dogs the best, whether it's high quality, nutritious food or the best care in town. What do you give your dogs in terms of drinking water?

Tap water is taken for granted, even though it is so important. We do not always worry about where our dogs get their water from.

However, you need to make sure that the dog in your water is both safe and healthy.

Dogs, like us, have a water content of 60-70 percent in their bodies. So, if we are so concerned about the quality of our drinking water, why should not our pets be too?

Water is just as important to them as it is to us and is needed for a variety of bodily functions, including:

Studies on the safety of water treated with various chemicals have raised the question of how safe our drinking water is. It has been found that our drinking water sources contain a variety of contaminants.

These include metals such as lead and arsenic, which affect a dog's immune system, and microplastics with unknown health consequences.

These are just a few of the contaminants in tap water that can harm your dog.

Although most strains of E.coli in the public water supply are harmless, some dangerous strains in dogs can cause loss of appetite, low body temperature, depression, increased heart rate, diarrhea, vomiting, malaise/weakness, and lethargy.

Lead poisoning in dogs can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Seizures, fatigue, loss of appetite, extreme anxiety, blindness, and behavioral changes may occur if your dog is exposed to lead for an extended period of time.

Fluoride in high concentrations is toxic and can damage the kidneys. It can cause severe nausea and diarrhea in dogs, as well as restlessness, drooling, muscle weakness, and seizures.

There may be a link between fluoride and cancer in dogs, but more research is needed to confirm this.

However, since fluoride levels in drinking water are extremely low and well below toxic levels, this should not be a major problem. The amount of fluoride in dog food and toothpaste is even more shocking.

The amount of chlorine your dog ingests and the length of time he is exposed to it will determine whether or not it is harmful. Chlorine levels in tap water are calculated based on human consumption, not small animal consumption.

If the chlorine level is within regulatory guidelines, the water is generally safe to drink. However, it has been reported that the disinfection byproducts produced by chlorine, rather than the chlorine itself, can be hazardous to drinking water.

Despite the fact that the effects of chlorine on dogs are well documented, it is safe to say that it should be avoided.

A parasitic infection transmitted by fecal excretion into water, food, soil, and other surfaces. Both animals and humans can get diarrhea from this parasite.

Water with a high content of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, is called hard water. Crystalluria (crystals in the urine) has been associated with very hard water, which can lead to stone formation and bladder and urinary tract infections in your dog. Normal hard water, on the other hand, is probably a good thing for your dog because calcium and magnesium are important minerals.

Now, before you get upset about the above problems, check to see if the risks are present in your drinking water.

Request a copy of your water provider's annual consumer confidence report, which includes an accurate assessment of your water quality. You can also have your water professionally tested by purchasing a water testing kit or sending it to a EPA -approved lab or state health department.

Is it possible to solve this problem by switching to bottled water? Well, that depends on your point of view. Some bottled water comes from natural aquifers, springs, or underground sources that are free of harmful contaminants.

Others simply use the same water treatment as tap water. Many companies simply take water from any source and treat it to reduce dissolved solids to a certain level.

In one study, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit research organization, discovered 38 different contaminants in 10 popular brands of bottled water in the United States, including bacteria, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer residue, industrial chemicals and so on.

Therefore, it is important to read the labels and look at the ingredients before buying bottled water.

Another disadvantage of drinking bottled water is the high cost. Pollution from non-biodegradable plastic bottles is also a concern. And it has been proven that bottled water contains a lot of microplastics that are not good for your pet.

Water is an extremely sensitive element. Both humans and dogs can contract a variety of dangerous waterborne diseases if the water is not safe to drink. To avoid this, take precautions like those listed below:

If you filter your tap water, you do not have to rely on your water supplier or bottled water manufacturers to comply.

This way, you can be sure that the water you drink is safe. Be sure to choose a water filter that has been independently tested to remove contaminants of particular concern.

There are both faucet and sink filters that meet these requirements. They are a healthier option for you and your pet in the long run, even if they are a bit more expensive.