It’s a hot summer day, and you are out with your best friend when you suddenly realize that you dint carry a bottle of water. The only item in your bag is a bottle of chilled carbonated water you had for yourself. What do you do next? Can dogs drink sparkling water?
Dogs can drink sparkling water or carbonated water, but that should always be the last resort. Hence, now you know that giving carbonated water to your dog may not be very safe unless you have no choice at all.
It’s difficult to ignore those puppy eyes when you are trying to eat or drink anything before your furry friends. As pet parents, we love to give a bite or sip of everything we consume to our four-legged friends. But, not all foods we eat are considered safe for dogs.
Let’s take a closer look at the reason for that.
Is Sparkling Water Bad For Dogs?
Yes, it is! But the answer to the question- “Can dogs drink sparkling water” was also a yes! How so? Well, anything, when consumed in moderation, may prove to be harmless in both humans and dogs. Moderation is the key here.
So, yes, dogs can drink sparkling/ carbonated water as long as the quantity is limited to just a few licks. With all that being said, let’s look at some of the reasons why sparkling water is a wrong choice for your dog.
Bloating
Bloating is one of the most common health issues that can affect dogs when they drink sparkling water. Even in humans, we all know how drinking soda makes us feel. It causes the same effects in dogs too. In fact, bloating in dogs may be a more serious health problem than in humans.
If your dog just drank sparkling water, then here are the following symptoms you should look out for:
- Stomach swelling and discomfort
- Upset stomach and digestive problems
- Buildup of gas
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Excessive drooling
- The overall look of stress
- Restlessness
- Rapid breathing or panting
Suppose you notice any of these symptoms, then you should take your dog to the vet immediately. In severe cases of bloating in dogs, the condition may lead to severe damage to the stomach also.
Presence of Xylitol
Sweeteners such as xylitol may be present in some sparkling water. While xylitol is totally safe for human consumption, it may not have the same effect in dogs. Xylitol is considered to be a really harmful substance for dogs.
When a dog consumes xylitol, the substance is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. The absorption leads to an immediate release of insulin from the dog’s pancreas, which leads to a rapid decrease of sugar levels in the blood. This effect is known as hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia usually happens in a short span of one hour after the intake of xylitol. The effect may even lead to death if not treated at the right time. Xylitol can even lead to liver damage and cause seizures in dogs.
According to the Center for Veterinary medicine at the US FDA, there have been many cases of dogs being poisoned due to the consumption of xylitol.
Acidic
We all know that sparkling water is usually acidic in nature. The acidity of sparkling water may cause erosion of your dog’s teeth.
Increased appetite
While you may think that increased appetite is a good sign in dogs, it may turn dangerous if it leads to overeating. This is reported in reference to a small animal study that was carried out in 2017. The study was undertaken to study the effects of still water and carbonated water on the production of ghrelin in dogs.
Ghrelin is popularly known as the “hunger hormone” and induces hunger in dogs. According to the study, the dogs that were given carbonated water showed an increase in ghrelin production in their bodies. Whereas the ones
that were administered still water showed no difference in their ghrelin level.
The ones drinking carbonated water also gained weight faster due to an increase in their appetite. Therefore, regular consumption of sparkling water may induce quick weight gain and lead to obesity in dogs which is a dangerous health issue.
Do Dogs Like Carbonated Water?
You may delight in knowing that most dogs don’t even like carbonated water. They prefer freshwater any time of the day. But again, there are a few dogs who don’t drink enough water a day to keep themselves hydrated. In such cases, tempting them with sparkling water may intrigue their interest.
Whenever you plan on giving sparkling water to your dog, be very careful to keep it to the minimum; just letting them take a few licks is more than enough. You also need to make sure that the sparkling water contains only water and not any other additives.
Most of our carbonated drinks may contain some amount of sugar or sodium that we may like but is harmful to our furry friends. Regular intake of sparkling water may lead to serious digestive problems in dogs.
Importance of Fresh Water For Dogs
With all that being said, make it a point that fresh, filtered water becomes a large part of your dog’s water intake. The importance of drinking fresh water in dogs cannot be stressed enough. Did you know that a loss of just 10%-15% of water in a dog’s body can lead to severe dehydration, which may eventually lead to death?
According to the American Kennel Club, freshwater is necessary for dogs for :
- The smooth functioning of all metabolic processes
- Regulating a dog’s body temperature
- Removal of harmful toxins from the body
- Proper digestion process, breathing, and blood flow
- Maintain skin’s elasticity
- Lubricating the joints
So how much water should your dog drink every day? An ounce of water per pound of body weight in a day is the ideal quantity of water for your dog. If you think your dog isn’t drinking enough, then maybe you can entice her by offering a sip of sparkling water.
The source of your dog’s freshwater is also important. Tap water in the US is generally safe to drink and can be directly given to dogs, but water in all areas may not be safe. Few regions in the US may deliver tap water that contains harmful toxins, parasites, or other contaminants. Drinking such water may lead to health issues in your dogs.
Therefore, fresh filtered water should be the first choice for dogs. Also, make sure that you frequently change the water in the water bowl so that they get access to only clean and fresh water.
Does Sparkling Water Cause Bloating in Dogs?
Yes, sparkling water cause bloating when the amount is not well moderated. And that is because of what sparkling water contains.
Sparkling or carbonated water is so-called because it contains dissolved carbon dioxide gas that is artificially injected under pressure. This process of carbonation leads to the formation of tiny bubbles in the water.
When humans drink sparkling water, the carbon dioxide gas is belched out of the upper digestive tract and does not reach the stomach. However, since dogs do not burp, the gas directly enters their stomach. This will lead to a serious health condition known as “bloating” in dogs. Bloating is a term used for two serious stomach problems in dogs. Let us dive into what they are!
Gastric Dilation (GD)
Gastric dilation is referred to when a dog’s stomach is filled with gas. The gas will dissolve on its own after some time, but the dog experiences pain and stress during the process. The dog may experience mild symptoms of bloating, such as a swollen tummy. Dogs that are overweight or older in age are at a higher risk of gastric dilation.
Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (GDV)
GDV is a serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated. It happens when a stomach is filled with gas and subsequently twists. Gastric dilation or simple bloat may progress into GDV quickly.
During GDV, the dog’s body experiences a shock since the twisted stomach completely obstructs blood flow to and from major organs of the body. The expansion of the stomach puts immense pressure on the veins and arteries, which blocks the blood supply to the stomach. As a result, there is a buildup of toxins in the stomach leading to the death of healthy tissues.
Therefore, bloating is a very serious condition in dogs and should not be taken lightly. There are certain dog breeds that are more susceptible to bloating than others.
Among the large breed dogs, Saint Bernard, Scottish Deerhound, are more prone to bloating. In the case of medium and small-breed dogs, Basset Hound, the Chinese Shar-Pei, and Dachshunds have the highest risk for Gastric Dilation-Volvulus.
After reading about bloating, you may wonder- “So can dogs drink sparkling water for real?”. As mentioned above, if you give sparkling water to your dog as a treat or maybe once in a blue moon, then it is totally fine. You only need to make sure that sparkling water doesn’t become part of your dog’s daily diet.
Is Mineral Water Good for Dogs?
Yes, mineral water is good for dogs. However, if you think that giving mineral water to your dog will drastically benefit him as compared to tap water, then you may be wrong. Studies have shown that clean tap water may prove to be equally beneficial to dogs, just like giving mineral water.
However, you cannot ignore the fact that not all tap water is clean and filtered. If you think that the tap water in your area may contain toxins, parasites, and other contaminants, then you should switch to giving mineral water to your dog.
There are many advantages of giving mineral water to dogs. For starters, mineral water contains essential minerals such as calcium, potassium that your dog needs for healthy living. Minerals and vitamins are essential components of a dog’s nutrition and help them fight diseases, keep a healthy immune system, and many other benefits.
It is possible that your tap water may not be able to fulfill all the nutritional requirements that your dog’s body needs. When tap water undergoes filtration, many of the essential minerals are also washed away in the process.
However, with mineral water, you are assured that not only is your dog’s body hydrated, but all required minerals are consumed too. Mineral water comes with a host of nutrients that may help in reducing blood pressure, strengthening bones and muscles in dogs. They also promote good digestive health and improves blood circulation.
There are few brands of water that have been specially formulated for dogs, such as “Woofer water” and “K9 Quencher”. These bottled waters contain essential nutrients like electrolytes that nourish your dog’s body.
Nevertheless, giving bottled mineral water to your dog every day may prove heavy on the pocket. Also, not all dogs may like bottled water. Dogs can be really picky about the type of water they drink. If they are used to drinking tap water, then they may probably like to stick to it.
Bottled mineral water may taste entirely different for your dog. Therefore, while dogs can safely drink mineral water, giving tap water as long as it is clean and fresh is also safe. You can even opt to mix tap water along with mineral water so that your dog enjoys the best of both worlds.
Final Thoughts
Many pet parents are confused about the question- “can dogs drink sparkling water?”, However, after reading this post, you may have gotten your answer by now. An important point to remember is to carefully read through the contents of the bottled water before giving it to your dog.
There are sparkling waters that contain sweeteners or salts like sodium. Such ingredients may prove to be harmful to your dog. Therefore, make sure that the sparkling water you give is clear and devoid of any additives.
In addition to such precautions, you should also moderate the amount of sparkling water you give at a time. You should limit it to just a few licks at best. If the quantity is not moderated, then your dog may face bloating or other health issues.
Now, if someone really asks can dogs drink sparkling water or not? You know how to reply! With the right precautions, you can treat your dog to some bubbly water!
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