We must keep our beloved pets hydrated by ensuring they have access to water throughout the day, but can dogs drink tap water?
Many pet owners might think it is enough to use tap water, especially since we are the first ones to drink it, but a domestic water treatment expert has issued a severe warning.
Gene Fitzgerald, a home water treatment expert at BOS, explained that living in an area with a specific type of water could harm your small and fluffy friends!
Ms Fitzgerald says: “The UK is globally known for having one of the best tap waters in the world. However, that doesn’t mean it’s problem-free, and if you live in an area with a certain type of tap water, there’s a good chance you could poison your beloved pets.”
However, it depends on the type of tap water in your area because some types are suitable for drinking by pets.
Is tap water really that harmful?
She explained: ‘In many places in the UK, tap water is fine for humans and animals to drink. But your animals can get sick if you live in an area with hard water.
‘Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium. Which can be extremely dangerous for pets to drink.’
Fitzgerald explained: “If a dog drinks too much hard water for a prolonged period, it could develop conditions such as urinary tract and bladder infections, cystitis, urinary obstruction, crystalluria and stone formation.”
She added: ‘Hard water can also cause skin irritation and dryness, digestive and dental problems in pets, which can be dangerous and costly for you to treat.’
Suppose you live in a complicated water area. In that case, Mr Fitzgerald has advised: “Although some water softeners contain sodium, which can be harmful to pets, reverse osmosis and distillation softeners are great solutions.”
“Eliminating harmful substances contained in hard water would be helpful to keep your pet healthy as well as it would help improve the health of your plants and the lifespan of your appliances.”
Kinetico’s water treatment specialists agree and state, “In general, these pets can drink the same water as us; however, it is worth noting that high mineral content in hard water is not advisable for them as it could harm them.”
“This is even more important if your small pet has a pre-existing condition, such as kidney or bladder disease.”
The best thing you could do for your pets is provide filtered tap water to prevent them from falling ill.
Every region in the UK has different water hardness and softness levels, and you can call your water company to receive a water assessment.
Cities in the UK with the most demanding water levels
UK towns and cities with the hardest water
| Town / City | Water Hardness Level | Mg/l CaCo3 |
|---|---|---|
| Bath | Tough water | 307 |
| Bristol | Hard water | 232 |
| Guildford | Hard water | 238 |
| Hemel Hempstead | Tough water | 303 |
| Milton Keynes | Tough water | 308 |
| Oxford | Hard water | 279 |
| Reading | Hard water | 278 |
| Slough | Very hard water | 304 |
| Swindon | Tough water | 349 |
| Walton-on-Thames | Hard water | 238 |
UK counties with the most complex water
| County | Water Hardness Level |
|---|---|
| Bedfordshire | Hard to tough water |
| Berkshire | Hard to tough water |
| Buckinghamshire | Hard to tough water |
| Cambridgeshire | Hard to tough water |
| Dorset | Hard to tough water |
| Essex | Hard to tough water |
| Gloucestershire | Hard to tough water |
| Greater London | Moderately hard water |
| Hampshire | Hard to tough water |
| Hertfordshire | Hard to tough water |
| Kent | Hard to tough water |
| Oxfordshire | Hard to tough water |
| Surrey | Hard to tough water |
| Sussex | Hard to tough water |
| Wiltshire | Hard to very hard water |
Map Showing the rate of hardness in mg/l as Calcium in England and Wales
I live in a complex water area; what do I do? Use filtered tap water
If you live in a city with a high risk of hard water, the best thing you can do for your dog is provide filtered tap water. In addition, hard water could cost you hundreds of pounds a year in higher heating bills, appliance maintenance and replacement costs.
There are easy-to-fit solutions on Amazon that will reduce your energy bills by improving the efficiency of your heating system and appliances and filtering water for your dog. We at Frenchie Breed have chosen the ones with the best reviews for you:
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