Although the positive effects of clean water for humans are now widely studied and documented, there is less research on the importance of clean water for our pets. Should filtration be a point of concern when you’re filling your dog’s water bowl?
Because pets seem to share many biological features and mechanisms as humans, research does so far seem to suggest that clean water is critically important for pets. For example, just as human kidneys can be overstressed by heavy metals and VOCs in our tap water, so too can a dog or cat’s organs. The biological mechanics at play are very similar, and similar diseases and ailments can be found in both humans and pets when these toxic chemicals get into the bloodstream.
Moreover, because pets generally have so much less body mass, the same concentration of a contaminant (for example, lead) can have a bigger effect. Small pets—hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, certain breeds of dogs—can be especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of tap water toxins, for the same reason children and infants are.
There’s also the taste factor. Pets, like humans, can taste a difference in tap water, too. Because of their stronger senses of smell, sometimes as much as 20 times that of a human, they can be described as supertasters. It’s no wonder that so many of our customers who fill their dog or cat’s bowl with fresh Aquagear filtered water say that their furry friend starts drinking more water right away. Regular hydration is important to these pets’ health just like it is for humans. If we can encourage them to stay hydrated by giving them fresher, tastier water, all the better.