The Reverse Slurp

Water is important to dogs.

A dog's body is comprise mainly of water as are we humans.

Water is the substrate in which all the chemicals of the body are dissolved, all cells are bathed, and all cell contents are suspended. It is also the essential vehicle of the circulatory system.

Check out this video which shows how a dog drinks and takes water into his mouth in slow motion. Very cool!

The reverse slurp.......

Kitesurfing Dog

It is a well known fact that dogs love to stick their heads in the wind out the car window.



Here is a dog that not only likes the wind in its face, but also the excitement of being on the water. This dog kitesurfs with its master!

Watch this incredible video.

Dog Canteen

What is your method of taking water for your dog when venturing into the great outdoors?

I usually carry a jug of water in the car or know where there is a body of acceptable drinking water for my dog. Ebony will not drink out of my hand or from a water bottle which makes it challenging at times.

Today I came across this dog canteen; Hydro-Go Pet Canteen. What a great idea! This product is very cleverly made and they took into account many human conveniences.

Check it out!

I might have to get one of these for our travels.

Water Safety for Dogs

Someone told me that all dogs can swim. That is not true.

Here are a few tips on water safety:

Pets can drown in lakes and pools, just like people. Even if your pet seems to want to keep playing fetch in the water, at some point you will need to take a break.

Older dogs tire more quickly, even if they are excellent swimmers. When the dog becomes exhausted, swimming and keeping his head above water becomes more difficult.

Be on the lookout for stagnant pools of water. At certain times of the year, algae forms along the edges of stagnant or infrequently used bodies of water. Some forms of this algae, particularly blue-green algae, are very dangerous. Ingesting some of the algae can cause serious, rapid illness that can kill pets.

Do not allow your pet to go near stagnant water or algae, and make sure he does not drink from these water sources.

I hope these water safety tips help keep your dog safe this summer.

Water

One thing no creature on this Earth can live without: WATER!

On average, our pets must be fed water at least 3 times a day - usually at least 2mL for every pound he weighs or at least 2.5 times the amount of daily food he consumes. When your pets eat dry food, they need even more water. And of course you know they prefer cold, fresh water - usually running from the faucet.

Now I'm not saying to turn all our faucets and tubs into Rover's drinking bowl. But what I am saying is that it is very important that we make sure our dogs drink enough water every single day to stay healthy.

And DO NOT forget about yourself! WATER is Mother Nature's medicine.

The Importance of Water For Your Dog's Health

"It simply cannot be overstated how important water is to your dog's health and well being," says Dr. Jon. It helps digest food, absorb nutrients, flush out waste and control body temperature. Next to oxygen, water is the most important nutrient in your dog's body.

According to Dr. Jon, dogs can go for days without food. Their bodies can lose all their fat and up to half their protein and still survive. But when a dog loses just 10 percent of his body's water, bodily functions shut down causing serious illness. A 15 percent loss of body water will kill him.

So how much water does your dog need?

There is no steadfast rule. In general, animals should take in two and a half times more water than food. Another useful guideline for dogs weighing 20 pounds or less is that they need about 1 cup (8 ounces) of water for every 5 pounds of body weight. So, a healthy 15-pound dog would need 3 cups of water a day.

Check your dog's water dish regularly. When fresh, clean water is available a dog will generally drink all he needs to survive. The fresher the water, the more appealing it will be to your dog.