July is Pet Hydration Month! Making sure your furry buddy is drinking enough water is very important! Dehydration can be very dangerous—and even deadly—to our four-legged pals. Read on as a local Matthews, NC vet offers tips on keeping pets hydrated.

Clean Water

First and foremost, make sure that your animal companion always has plenty of clean water. Some pets prefer drinking running water. You may want to consider getting your furry friend an automatic water bowl or a little pet fountain. Be sure to wash your pet’s water bowls daily. This will keep dirt and bacteria from building up. With bowls that are outdoors, this also helps prevent wildlife from contaminating the water.

Multiple Stations

You may want to put out more than one water station. This is particularly helpful if you have multiple pets or live in a large and/or multi-storied home. If you let your pet spend time outside, keep a water bowl outdoors as well. (Tip: try putting a stainless steel bowl inside a plant urn. This looks really nice!)

Wet Food

There are some definite benefits to giving your animal companion wet food. One of the key ones is that it has a much higher moisture content than kibble does. Ask your vet for specific advice.

Broth

Many of our four-legged companions love broth! Give your pet some fish, chicken, or beef broth. Just be sure to only choose brands that are sodium-free. (Tip: remember to check the label to make sure it doesn’t contain MSG.)

Ice Cubes

On really hot days, feel free to drop an ice cube into your four-legged friend’s water bowl to cool it off a bit. Fido may also enjoy having the occasional ice cube as a treat. (Note: for extra tail wags, freeze pieces of kibble in sodium-free broth, and offer them to your pooch as a snack.) As for Fluffy, she may not care for chewing on an ice cube, but she may enjoy batting one around on the floor!

Cat Milk

While dairy actually isn’t good for cats, it is safe to give your feline buddy cat milk. Cat milk is specially formulated for kitties, and is a safe treat for them. You can find it in many pet stores and grocery markets. Please reach out to us, your local Matthews, NC pet hospital, anytime. We are always happy to help!