YEAH!!! No more wet eyes

[hnybun128]

Originally Posted by LDMomma

You are not supposed to give pups distilled water. There are no minerals in distilled water and it makes them pee out the ones that are already in their bodies. Pups have actually died because their owners were giving distilled water.

Here's some info:

The possible health consequences of low mineral content water consumption
are discussed in the following categories:
• Direct effects on the intestinal mucous membrane, metabolism and mineral
homeostasis or other body functions.
• Practically zero calcium and magnesium intake.
• Low intake of other essential elements and microelements.
• Loss of calcium, magnesium and other essential elements in prepared food

from: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_...ineralized.pdf

From what I can find on the internet, there is some debate over whether it is actually dangerous or not. I also find that people showing Maltese in particular (I'm sure every little thing shows up on their pretty white coats) have used distilled water for years. I guess it's probably best to check with your vet before changing anything. I'm definitely looking into this further, though, because both of mine have problems with eye boogers.

[My lil friend]

I have a filter on my frig water despenser. I started using only this for the dogs drinking water and noticed that within 4 or 5 days that both my yorkie and the poodles stopped having wet eyes. This is the same water that I drink.
I had noticed while we were on vacation a few months ago that Mina's eyes stopped tearing,we were only using bottled drinking water. I didn't put the two together until I saw some comments on YT.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Yikes. Glad I read this post. Going to check out the distilled water issue. Thanks all.

[angieNchloe]

i have a PUR water filter system on my kitchen sink and fridge both....my dogs have drank this for a long time....no problems...My jack russell is 8 yrs old...

[lilliput]

i agree!! are they supposed to drink the water or do you use it to clean their eyes?? what do you use, by the way, other than a comb, to clean the boogers from their eyes? how do you know if they have an infection, or the amount of boogers is normal? sometimes, it is really crusty and i have to peel it off, sometimes running down the side of their noses? is this normal?

[richards6402]

I started using this for Macy to drink. I have been using the filtered water we drink (osmosis filter) and her eye boogies have always been bad along with wet fur.

I never thought to use Nursery water to wash her face in. have a call into my vet to see what he says on the subject of using Nursery water. I have gone back to our filtered water until I an study this more.

[southernbelle04]

Yay for Macy! I think I will try to get nursery water for our baby as well.

[richards6402]

I just talked with my vet and he said using Nursery water was OK. The one I use has some minerals added to it like potassium, calcium chloride, magnesium and fluoride. I'm not sure what I am going to do now eventhough he said it was safe.

Please if anyone is thinking of using Nursery water, ask your vet if it is OK first.

[Yorkiesatwork]

There is a difference between 'distilled' and 'filtered' water. Yes, distilled water has about everything in it removed. Think: water discarded from the dehumidifier... Filtered (purified) water has the good stuff left in it, and the chunks of crap filtered out. Your appliances will last longer on 'filtered' water.

[LDMomma]

Originally Posted by hnybun128

From what I can find on the internet, there is some debate over whether it is actually dangerous or not. I also find that people showing Maltese in particular (I'm sure every little thing shows up on their pretty white coats) have used distilled water for years. I guess it's probably best to check with your vet before changing anything. I'm definitely looking into this further, though, because both of mine have problems with eye boogers.

There's debate over everything on the internet My link was from the World Health Organization so I'd go with them instead of anecdotal or quackery, YMMV. My girls drink filtered water from our fridge or bottled spring water if we are out.

[BlueBelle]

Nursery water is distilled but certain minerals are added back in. I would think if it was safe for infants it would be ok for the pups, PLUS there are plenty of minerals in well balanced dog food to keep this from being a problem, IMO.

[RileyDC]

What about AQUAFINA Bottled Water?
Is that okay?
That is what a co-worker, at work, who owns a Maltese told me to buy!
Riley doesn't have a huge problem with tears of eye boogers, to begin with, but I did start using the AQUAFINA.

[myteddybear]

There is so much crap in our drinking water that I don't drink it myself and don't give it to Rosie. I have a distiller and distill our water at home and add back in some minerals myself. The same is said about humans drinking distilled but with minerals added and a decent diet you are getting those minerals elsewhere also. We have been drinking it only for over 6 months with no problems and I would be confident that water for infants has in it what it needs and should also be fine for our fur babies.

Here's something I did that I thought was interesting. Put the distilled or nursery water in one bowl and the tap or filtered in the other and watch which one the dog chooses. Mine goes for the distilled every time.

[myteddybear]

Oh smart water is also distilled with minerals added back in not sure about aquafina but I think it is also.

If you drink pure distilled with nothing added back in you know it. It has a drying affect on your mouth and actually leaves you feeling more thirsty where as minerals added back in does not.

[hnybun128]

Originally Posted by LDMomma

There's debate over everything on the internet My link was from the World Health Organization so I'd go with them instead of anecdotal or quackery, YMMV. My girls drink filtered water from our fridge or bottled spring water if we are out.

True, there is debate over everything, but since I didn't cite my sources, I don't know that you can rightly call them "anecdotal or quackery". There were multiple sources with differing views on this. You are citing a 7 year old paper. As we all know, even medical studies for humans keep coming up with different theories about what is "right" or safe for a myriad of health issues. As I mentioned earlier, I think everyone needs to discuss health issues with their trusted vets before making any changes.