Question about water
 

I've read several threads about food, treats, and such but I haven't read what I need to know about water. In fact, not only have I not read it on this board, I also have not read it in any of the numerous books I've read.

Do you give cold water from the refrigerator or do you give water from the tap? I realize you may use bottled water, etc. but I'm wanting to know if you chill it or give it at a faucet temperature.

The only thing I have seen that mentions ice and water is the suggestion to put an ice cube in the kennel with a dog that is being flown in cargo.

This may seem like an usual thing to wonder about but I've never responsible for a puppy before. We have both extremes in our house...my husband puts as many ice cubes as he can fit in his glass while I want whatever I drink to be room temp.

(One of the reasons I am concerned about this relates to the number of posts I read about Yorkie's digestive problems and tummy upsets, etc)

Just interested in what is best for the puppy...chilled water, ice water, or room temp water.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

I would suggest if you give them water from the faucet for it to be without ice cubes. and for bottled water keep it room temperature. Puppies can get cold from the inside if they drink or eat something cold..

I have a Britta Water pitcher I keep on the kitchen counter Milo gets his water from there. I do give him ice cubes to play with

Oh, yes, one other thing about water that I remembered as I hit the publish button is how often you change out the water per day?

Just exactly what is considered "fresh" water in terms of time?

These questions may have "common sense" answers but if you have no frame of reference, there is nothing to base that answer upon.

Again, thanks in advance.

We have one of those Alhambra type jugs in the house and give them that kind of bottled water. We give it to them at room temperature. I clean it once a day, more if it looks nasty.

I have a Lab that gets tap water. He drinks more and it's not economical to feed him the bottled stuff. I don't worry too much about it.

The water here in Delaware is nasty, so thats why we only give Fiona bottled water, i will not drink tap water here either, so why should Fiona?;)

Our breeder told us that some of the pups from a previous litter got sick when they went to their new homes because of the water change. He put the pups on bottled water and I bought water of the same brand.

After a month in her new home, eating and drinking the same food and water she had in her original home, Puddin' has had no digestive difficulties at all. I buy 5 litre jugs of bottled water for me to drink, and she gets the same water. The only difference is that mine is refrigerated and hers is kept at room temp.

Her food and water dishes get washed as needed, but definitely run through the kitchen soap and hot water routine at least twice a week (she eats kibble so the food dish doesn't get very dirty).

We haven't tried her with ice..we have a/c in our bedroom and if I open the bathroom door, hers too, so she doesn't need to cool off. In fact, with the a/c, sometimes I need to cover her up!

A tip when out and about with your little one: get a small juice bottle (8 oz or less) and fill with the bottled water. Take along a small plastic bowl with a tight-fitting lid (Tupperware works great). If you are using puddle pads, put one of those in a zip-lock plastic bag. Another small bowl with a tight lid can carry kibble. Now you have food, the proper water, and a potty for your little one, all easily portable.

I don't think the temp makes that much difference. If you are worried about them being chlled, give it room temp. If they are hot, give it cold. :) Ellie drinks from the tap because that's what I do. It is served cold because we don't drink the warm or hot from the tap ourselves but by the time she drinks it, it is probably room temp. I would have no problem giving her very cold water from the fridge but that's not what I use, so neither does she...

I try to change water twice daily but her bowl just gets rinsed. I don't wash it everyday. It gets changed every couple-few days. It would definitely be better to wash it daily, but it seems clean enough by just rinsing it.

I have done both...gave it from the fridge....and keep some at room temp....they don't seem to care.. :) ....They get distilled water...

Water from the faucet is fine. I do give my dogs crushed ice when they are running a temp....

First off, I don't really know what I'm doing either, but Nikko gets cool/room temp tap water, the same stuff we drink. I usually rinse out his water cup and refill it to the top about 2-3 times per day - he tends to drink more if the cup is more full (weird, I know, but true). And I know getting lots of water is important for their internal organs' health, especially if they eat dry food.

I'd like to know if anyone else knows more about the ice water when it's hot out issue... It's going to be SMOKIN hot here this summer, and I'd always planned on adding ice cubes to Nikko's water once it started to get too warm, and I still plan on doing that unless I hear some really good info the other way.

Lauren & Nikko

WOW:eek: I have a lot to learn too! I have never really thought about what I give Maddie. lol She just gets clean water. Sometimes from the tap, sometimes from a bottle I grab for myself from the fridge.
She doesn't ever complain...of course I have chased her from a mud puddle before, which she was really lapping up:p
___________________________
I :love: MADDIE CAKES:aimeeyork !

I DO know to stay far, far away from mud puddles or any other kind of standing water, including water from outdoor hoses and sprinklers. They can easily contain really nasty stomach parasites.

Lauren & Nikko

I use tap water only, but our water is pretty nice here. I have one of those little pet water fountains so it cycles the water continually to keep it from standing for too long-- I have two cats and they really prefer the water to be moving. Penny doesn't seem as picky, but if it is good for the cats, it works for her too.