All pup paw-rents know that pets can be picky when it comes to drinking their water, and it’s often difficult to make sure your pooch is getting enough fluids to stay happy, healthy and hydrated.
In our latest blog post, founder of Furr Boost and expert in dog health and wellbeing, Louise Toal, shares some simple but smart tips and tricks to up your dog’s water intake…
Provide more water bowls
Placing plenty of water bowls around the house and garden is one of the easiest ways to encourage your four-legged friend to drink more. By simply making water available in every room your dog won’t have to go far for a drink, so even the laziest of pooches will be tempted to take a sip!
Choose an area free from distractions with little human traffic and consider placement of the bowl - senior or injured pooches might prefer their bowls elevated to avoid having to bend to take a drink.
Scruffs® dog water bowls have been created through studying the drinking habits of every size and breed of dogs to determine the optimal size, shape and function for water bowls for each of those dogs to comfortably and happily drink from.
Dogs' tongues curl backwards when drinking, lifting water into their mouths like a ladle. Many pet owners think that food bowls can be used as water bowls, but low sided drinking bowls don't provide the depth needed for dogs to curl their tongues back with comfort, which is why we gave our water bowls the height that they need.
As all responsible paw-rents know, bowls should be kept clean and water refreshed regularly – after all, you wouldn’t want to drink stale water from a dirty glass either!
Some fussy fur babies prefer drinking out of a certain type of container so try experimenting with different sizes and shapes, and test different materials like plastic, ceramic or stainless steel. Many dogs even prefer running water, so consider investing in a doggy drinking fountain.
Tempt them with tasty treats
Just like us humans, dogs can get bored of drinking plain water, too! Adding flavoured water or liquid treats to your dog’s diet is a great way to get them to drink more.
Try infusing water with low sodium chicken stock or dog-safe fruit, like blueberries, cucumber or oranges – just be sure to remove them from the water before serving to avoid a choking hazard!
For a real treat with added health benefits, try a dog hydration drink like Furr Boost, made from 100% natural, human grade ingredients and packed with superfoods, vitamins and added oils from salmon, flaxseed and coconut.
A favourite among even the fussiest of our four-legged friends, it’s available in three delicious doggy flavours – beef, broccoli and blueberry; chicken, butternut squash and cranberry; and pork, sweet potato and apple – so your dog will lap it up!
Serve it chilled in the summer months as a refreshing supercharged smoothie or warm it up during winter for a hearty, wholesome drink. It can also be added to dry food as a tasty topper instead of water to make dinner even yummier while topping up those all-important fluid levels.
Get creative with refreshing fun
You can’t beat cooling down with a tasty ice lolly or ice cream on a hot summer’s day, and your dog feels the same! Pupsicles make the paw-fect refreshing treat, especially during the summer months, and they’re really easy to make.
Simply take any mould - an ice cube tray, Kong or lick mat is perfect – pour on your pooches favourite Furr Boost drink or some flavoured water, freeze, and serve. Not only will a pupsicle provide hydration on a hot day, it’s also a great form of enrichment and will keep your four-legged friend entertained.
Of course, if there’s one thing all dogs love to do, it’s play! Make fun in the sun safer by turning playtime into a chance to cool down with sprinklers and paddling pools. Not only is playing in water great fun for our furry friends, but dogs will naturally lap up the water while they splash about! In particularly hot weather, make sure you place paddling pools in a shady spot and add ice for an extra refreshing dip!
Don’t forget drinks to go
Even on short walks during the summer months, hydration while on the move is essential. Never leave home without a fresh water supply and drinking vessel - a collapsible water bowl or bowls with bottles attached are great options for providing fluids when you’re out and about.
Ensure you make regular pit stops to offer your fur baby a quick drink – little and often is better than one big drink, or it may come straight back up! It goes without saying, don’t allow your dog to drink from stagnant water like puddles or ponds, as it may contain all kinds of hidden nasties and harmful bacteria or chemicals.
As well as fresh water, tasty treats that top up hydration levels, like Furr Boost, are brilliant for encouraging your pooch to drink more while out and about.
Designed with busy paw-rents in mind, Furr Boost comes in handy grab and go cartons with an easy tear opening, making them perfect for popping in your bag for short walks or long journeys.
They’re also packaged in environmentally friendly, recyclable Tetra Pak® cartons which minimise the use of plastic and impact on the environment, without compromising on quality.
Furr Boost is available to buy online in multipacks which contain eight 200ml cartons of each flavour for £16 New customers with particularly fussy fur babies might like to try the introduction taster pack which includes one 200ml carton of each flavour for £5.99. All orders over £20 are delivered free of charge.
For more information, and to help keep your pooch hydrated this summer please visit https://furrboost.com/.