Pet Knows

I recently read a post on Tree Hugger about a study from the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association that argues that you do not need to give your dog anything but regular old tap water. The study finds that:

“dogs are not susceptible to the chemicals, such as chlorine, used to disinfect municipal water. Dogs don’t gulp down a big glass of water like people often do; and their water usually sits in a bowl for hours, which allows the chemical concentrations to decrease over time.”

TreeHugger thinks that the study is a bit biased and some of the findings are tough to swallow (pardon the pun), but the study got me thinking more about the growing bottled water industry and the marketing potential with pet owners.

With growing consumer concerns about potentially harmful chemicals in our tap water (everything from pharmaceuticals to too much fluoride or chlorine), it was only a matter of time before pet parents started giving bottled water to their pets…and only a matter of time before the bottled water industry decided to capitalize on it.

PetSugar has featured many of these luxury pet items over the past year. Personally, I cannot imagine spending my money on any of these products considering Mosby is perfectly happy getting himself a drink from muddy puddles at the park or even the toilet (yes, “eew” is going through my head right now too…). However, if you do worry about what the chemicals in your water could be doing to your pet and you are interested in some doggie-tailored alternatives, here are a few products you can look into.

Pet Refresh says that it is “the only water available today that is specifically designed for the daily hydration needs of pets. Not a treat, but a core nutrient for better health.” Their site explains the filtration process they use to remove chemicals and additives from the water, and include a page on “what your pet could be drinking…”

K9 Water offers flavors such as Toilet Water (chicken flavored), Puddle Water (liver flavored), Hose Water (lamb flavored) and Gutter Water (beef flavored) and boasts that they make “the world’s first flavored, vitamin fortified bottled water specifically formulated to provide your dog with essential vitamins that contribute to overall good health and provide the hydration your dog needs.”

FortiFido also produces a fortified water for dogs: “the first nationally branded line of fortified water that is specifically formulated for dogs. Eighteen months of research and development by leading food and beverage scientists combined with the expertise of industry respected veterinarians has resulted in this exciting new product. FortiFido fortified water for dogs is formulated for the specific needs of dogs to support their health and wellness.”

FortiFido is offered in 4 formulas: Healthy Bones (peanut butter flavored), Fresh Breath (spearmint flavored), Healthy Joints (lemongrass flavored), and Healthy Skin (parsley flavored).

Woof Water was created by Avery’s Beverages, a company that recognized the opportunity to expand their target audience by creating a beverage for the dogs. Their site does not boast any special flavors or fortification of their Woof Water but do say that a portion of all sales goes to Our Companions Domestic Animal Sanctuary. The news piece on them below is quite amusing.

So how do you feel about giving bottled water to your dog or cat? Would you fork over the money for one of these products or are you going to stick with tap water? Or do you have another solution for safe drinking water for your pet? Let us know in the comments below!