Keeping Your Pet Hydrated

Summer is here. Hot weather can be very dangerous for our animal companions. One thing that is very important at this time of year is making sure your furry friend is properly hydrated. Dehydration and heat exhaustion go hand in hand! In this article, a local Las Vegas, NV vet offers tips on making sure your pet is getting enough water.

First and foremost, make sure to keep your pet’s water bowl filled. If you have more than one animal companion, and/or a large house, you may want to put out multiple water stations. If your four-legged buddy has a yard to play in, keep water outdoors as well. Be sure to wash the bowls daily. This is especially important with outdoor bowls, which can be contaminated by wild animals.

Consider getting your pet an automated waterer. A pet drinking fountain is also a good option. Many pets prefer to drink running water. This is definitely a good option if you have a cat with a taste for tap water.

Sodium-free broth can be a great treat for pets! Offer your dog or cat a bowl of chilled beef, chicken, or fish broth. Just be sure to discard any leftovers after a few hours. Also, check the label and confirm that it doesn’t contain any MSG.

Whenever you take your dog out and about with you, always bring water along for him. Consider getting collapsible doggy dishes, which are lightweight and fold up so they are very easy to carry. Fido may also like a doggy water bottle with an attached dispenser.

There are some advantages to offering your pet canned food. One good thing about wet food is that it does have higher moisture content than kibble. If you do give your furry pal kibble, ask your vet about adding water to it.

Many cold treats have quite a bit of water in them. Consider making Fido some pupsicles by freezing kibble, treats, or cooked meat in water or sodium-free broth. Your pup may also enjoy chewing an ice cube or two. As for Fluffy, she can have some chilled cat milk, which you can find in pet stores.

Please reach out to us, your Las Vegas, NV vet clinic, for all your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!