Does Your Pet Have a Drinking Problem?

July is National Pet Hydration Awareness Month.
Did you know that your pet is about 80% water, while we’re about 60% water?

PetSafe has a created a really nice infographic (see below) and is circulating this press release to help pet owners be sure their pets are getting enough water. Since they’re based in the UK, the study referenced is based on information from a UK study and the reference table notes kilograms and milliliters. We’ve done the math to help those of us in the US.

MANCHESTER, England, July 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — As the weather hots up, Brits show a surprising lack of awareness when it comes to their pet’s hydration and are happy to let them drink puddle water, milk and even the nation’s favorite brew – tea.

A survey^[1] carried out by pet product expert, PetSafe®, to raise awareness about the importance of pet hydration, has found that nearly half (45%) of UK pet owners are unclear about how much water to give their pets to drink.

Most worryingly, the survey revealed that three quarters of pet owners (70%) wouldn’t know how to tell if their pet was dehydrated. Further research indicated that over half (50%) of dog owners believe that panting is a sign of dehydration – a common misconception – panting is a sign that a dog is too hot or anxious.

In fact, puddle water topped the list of common things dogs like to drink other than water. 42% of dog owners said their dogs regularly sip puddle water, which most owners don’t realize can be potentially dangerous and can cause a stomach upset for their furry friend.

Tea was also popular with some pets – 23% of dogs regularly enjoyed a cuppa the survey found, with cats steering clear (only 15%). A quarter of cats also drank milk (25%), with the mistaken belief that it’s ‘good for them’ when it can actually lead to obesity, or can cause problems such as severe cramps and diarrhea.

Interestingly, over 40% of pet owners don’t take water for their pets on long walks or car journeys; poo bags were the number one essential the survey found.

David Chamberlain, veterinary consultant for PetSafe®, comments: “The results clearly show that pet owners need to become more savvy when it comes to hydrating their pets and the types of liquids they allow their pets to drink.

“Even losing just 10% of the body’s water can have serious consequences for a dog or cat and hotter weather, exercise and periods of illness can all contribute to water loss. It is vital to ensure that pets have access to clean, fresh water at all times, and make sure that they are drinking enough to keep them happy and healthy.”

He adds: “Simple measures such as taking water on long car journeys and ensuring the pets have access to water after activity can make a big difference. Lots of public places have fresh water available for pets in bowls – often it’s a case of just steering the pet in the right direction. It isn’t advisable to let pets drink puddle water, or even tea, and if they get enough water they shouldn’t need to go looking for drinks such as these.”

Your pet needs 70 ml of water per kilogram of body weight each day.

Weight	Breed/Species	Water (ml)	200ml Glasses (approx.)
4.5 kg	Cat/Yorkie	315	1 1/2
8 kg	Westie	560	3
24 kg	Springer	1680	8
35 kg	Labrador	2450	12

Table generated by PetSmart

or

Weight	Breed/Species	Water(oz)	8oz Glasses (approx.)
10 lbs	Cat/Yorkie	11	1 1/2
18 lbs	Westie	19	2 1/2
53 lbs	Springer	57	7
78 lb	Labrador	83	10 1/2

(approximations in pounds and ounces based on PetSafe’s table above)

For a quick reference: Be sure to check out PetSafe’s awesome infographic here.
For a quick calculation: We also found a really nice pet hydration calculator here.

Whether you live in the UK or the US or anywhere else on Earth, please be sure your furry friends don’t go thirsty. Providing fresh water every day is perhaps one of the easiest things we can do to help them be happy and healthy!

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¹ Survey was carried out by Censuswide in May 2015, 500 UK cat and dog owners were surveyed

About PetSafe®
PetSafe® is a global pet product expert with its headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wide-ranging innovative products are available across the PetSafe® portfolio including training, containment, lifestyle and wellbeing product solutions. Visit PetSafe.net for further details or connect on Facebook or Twitter.