Dogs Need Filtered Water
Be Careful of Misleading Information
Above is the Giardia cell. Giardia affects millions of dogs every year
Many people are under the assumption that dogs' stomachs are strong enough to drink tap water. In fact, there are certain studies that have even pointed to this in years past. In a 2008 article found in the American Veterinary Medical Association Journal, evidence indicated that tap water does not cause bladder cancer in dogs. At the time, this was a fairly important revelation to the public because unclean tap water was being linked to human bladder cancer. Because of studies like this, public opinion relaxed for a while and many decided that tap water was appropriate for dogs. However, more recent information has proven that tap water can in fact be dangerous.
Beware of Giardia
As more research was conducted, evidence piled up that pointed to the dangers of tap water. Even though tap water does not cause bladder cancer in dogs, studies started to indicate that tap water can cause Giardia intestinalis. Giardia intestinalis is a common, microscopic parasite that is often found to effect humans, cats, and dogs. This parasite is spread through feces and anything that comes into contact with it. Disgustingly enough, it often spreads through our water supply. Giardia (a single celled organism that lives in the intestines) can cause your pets to suffer from diarrhea, and for already malnourished animals, it can even lead to more harmful results. Treating Giardia in dogs and cats can be expensive and require antiprotozoal prescription medicine. So, it is important that you protect your pets from this parasite by providing them with clean bowls and clean drinking water.
Drinkwell Uses Filters and Constant Filtration
The Drinkwell 360 is the most popular of all the Drinkwell products
Drinkwell Pet Fountains
use either charcoal or carbon to rid tap water of all its dangers. This happens because the activated carbon filter uses positively charged and highly absorbent carbon in the filter to attract and trap many of the impurities. The charcoal and granulated carbon styles of filter will get rid of bad taste (that often comes from chlorine), lead, mercury, parasites such as Giardia, pesticides, and radon. It is important to remember that the purpose of a water filter is not to kill bacteria but to capture it. So as your filter gets older, it will be filled with all of the trapped bacteria and be less effective. In order for the filter to stay effective, you need to change it every couple of months.
The water in a Drinkwell Fountain is constantly flowing, which is another way that the Drinkwell helps to keep your dog's water clean. This helps because water that is moving holds more oxygen than water that is stagnant. With more oxygen in the water, the water is fresher and less likely to contain bacteria. The combination of constant filtration and the use of filters help to make sure that your dog's water supply is fresh and clean.
If you have any further questions about your pet's needs, Drinkwell, or any of our other products, feel free to e-mail, call us, or check out the Pet Street Mall website anytime. We love all animals and take pride in providing you with any information you may need.
By: Tim Snyder