Covering Everything You Need To Know About Pet Hydration And The Month-Long Holiday That Raises Awareness About It

The month of July is widely known and celebrated for being National Pet Hydration Awareness Month. Considering July is typically one of the hottest months of the year, it’s the perfect time to raise awareness about the importance of keeping your pets well hydrated. This article will cover everything you need to know about National Pet Hydration Awareness Month and offer a few tips on how to keep your pets well hydrated this summer.

History Of The Holiday

This important awareness based holiday was originally founded by PetSafe, the largest supplier of pet products in the U.S. PetSafe sells a wide variety of pet products including things like leashes, harnesses, toys, fountains, feeders, and more. They created this month-long holiday to help remind pet owners everywhere about the importance of providing clean drinking water for pets.

Why It’s So Important

According to Hill’s Pet Nutrition, 70% of your cat’s or dog’s body is made up of water. Additionally, water is essential to every chemical process in their body. Water helps transport nutrients and oxygen in the bloodstream to cells, support nervous system functions, regulate body temperature, and eliminate waste from the body. In short, water is essential for your pet’s health and well being.

Best Ways To Keep Your Pets Hydrated

Here at Stay And Play Pet Sitting, we have a lot of experience when it comes to caring for animals. Although we are not veterinarians, we are pet professionals when it comes to their needs and health. That’s why we came up with a few recommendations to help keep your pets well hydrated this summer.

Pet Water Fountain

One of the most innovative pet products to hit the market within the past decade is the pet water fountain. Pet water fountains provide constantly flowing water for your pets to drink at their leisure. They usually have a large reservoir, so you only need to refill it once or twice a day. Pet water fountains typically have built in filters as well, so your pets always have clean water.

While there is no concrete evidence to support it, many pet owners believe that the sound of running water helps entice pets to drink more regularly. Supposedly, the sound and feel of running water feels more natural to them and resembles that of a flowing river or stream. Regardless, pet water fountains are very convenient and provide clean flowing water for your pets all day.

Multiple Water Bowls

Another great way to make sure your pets stay well hydrated this Summer is to give them more options. We suggest putting multiple water bowls around your home so that your pets always have access to water regardless of where they may be. This also applies to outside water bowls for dogs. However, be cautious of where you place your outdoor water bowls. Leaving water bowls in the sun for too long can make the water and/or bowl too hot to drink out of. If it’s too hot for you, then it’s too hot for your pets.

Frozen Treats

There are few things more refreshing than a frozen treat. Ice cream, milkshakes, popsicles, etc. Sadly, our pets can’t have these things because they can’t properly digest them. But, there are alternative options for pets. This Summer, you can try making D.I.Y. frozen treats for your pets. By using pet friendly ingredients, your pet can enjoy a delicious frozen treat too! Click here for frozen dog treat recipes or click here for frozen cat treat recipes.

Wet Food

Dry food (a.k.a. kibble) is the most commonly used form of pet food in the world. However, it may be a good idea to switch it up a little during the hot Summer months. Pet wet food contains water which will be absorbed by your pet when consumed. This is especially helpful for cats who are notoriously known for not drinking enough water. As always, consult with your veterinarian first before switching up your pet’s food.

A Safe Summer Is A Happy Summer

We hope you found this article informative and that you try out some of the aforementioned suggestions regarding pet hydration. For more information regarding Summer advice for pets, check out our previous blog titled Doggone Hot Summer. We hope you and your pets have a fun, exciting, and safe Summer and happy National Pet Hydration Awareness Month!