Is distilled water safe?

[Teresamag]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Oh heck, I just found this, so now I don't know who's telling the truth, can't find any information from a great source yet, this person has a BS in marketing not science. Durastill Export Homepage. It just doesn't make sense to me that a dog should need distilled water.

It's hard to know what to believe. The guy that wrote this article works for a water distillation company so he would be biased this way. Are there any vet references or studies done by vets about distilled water vs. tap water?

Teresa

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Teresamag

It's hard to know what to believe. The guy that wrote this article works for a water distillation company so he would be biased this way. Are there any vet references or studies done by vets about distilled water vs. tap water?

Teresa

Yeah, I know, that's why I wasn't sure, but the scientific ones I've read don't really apply to this, they are talking more about how to get safe water to third world countries, and they are using distilled water. I'm also confused because it sounds like reverse osmosis is the same as distilled, and many people use that in AZ as their drinking water.

[Teresamag]

Unless something changes I think I will just stay with our tap water that comes from the well. I haven't ever had any problems with it and my vet hasn't ever said to switch to distilled water. I will ask him about it the next time we have a visit.

Teresa

[AprilLove]

I agree, it is hard to find hard scientific evidence either way on whether it is good or not. I just switched because I wanted to see if it helped with tear stains (it did in our case, and could have been due to my citys water supply, ymmv), and because i really don't want to have my babies drinking water with any additives in it at all. Water should be water. We have used filtered water as well as natural spring water too.
All blood tests are normal here, no freaky mineral or electrolyte deficiencies since switching, so I am happy with that and will continue using it.
Perhaps the reason switching to distilled helps so many is that their regular water supply just has too many minerals/chemicals in it? Pondering

[yorkieusa]

JMO: I would try the distilled water for a little while, but I wouldn't use it long term. I don't believe that is the root of the problem. It's easier to use a warm, wet wash cloth to clean their eyes of a morning and evening. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.

I was wondering if your vet tested the tears to see if there is an infection or just looked? Just looking isn't always reliable.

[yorkieusa]

This link may help you about eye problems:

Natural Treatments to Help Relieve Eye Infections in Cats and Dogs

[slidr]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

I know the doc told me NOT to use distilled water to mix baby formula many years ago as it would lead to mineral deficiencies. Distilled water brings NO minerals into the body but when you pee it out, minerals go along with it. So, it is worse than not adding any, it s actually taking aay from what the body already has. He said instead to use filtered water. I have used filtered water, purified tap water and spring water for my puppies as I don't like our tap water here.
There is a lot of info online about not using distilled water for our own drinking water so I don't want to use it for my pups either.

You do realize that the most likely mineral deficiency that would result from drinking distilled water is magnesium, right? And that this generally only concerns humans because we are more likely to not eat significant amounts of magnesium, while a dog's diet supplies more than enough than even the small traces that exist in tap water. The biggest concern of feeding your dog tap water is fluoridation.

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by slidr

You do realize that the most likely mineral deficiency that would result from drinking distilled water is magnesium, right? And that this generally only concerns humans because we are more likely to not eat significant amounts of magnesium, while a dog's diet supplies more than enough than even the small traces that exist in tap water. The biggest concern of feeding your dog tap water is fluoridation.

You start off with "You do realize...."????? Just a little "in your face" isn't it? Yes, I do realize that magnesium is the most notable mineral deficiency that would be caused. I also realize that not only does distilled water NOT add any minerals, it also leeches out some when you pee it out.

All I did was pass on what the doctor had told me about not using distilled water with my human babies. BTW -- I never advocated giving them straight tap water either. I made a point of saying only "FILTERED" tap water. Fluoride and chlorine are the two main reasons I would stay away from drinking much straight tap water. I also realize, even a person's filtering system needs to be evaluated to make sure it DOES take out both. (They don't all!)

Do you realize that is is NOT just magnesium that is of issue though? Drinking distilled water can cause rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) as well as trace minerals like magnesium. Deficiencies of these can lead to heart beat irregularities and high blood pressure. Even cooking foods in distilled water will pull the minerals out of the food and lower their nutritional value. Not only that but distilled water absorbs carbon dioxide much more than non-distilled water. That makes it acidic. The more distilled water you drink, the higher the body's acidity becomes. Ph balance is linked to all sorts of health concerns.

I could not find a reference where a VET or other health professional discussed distilled water and dogs .... I did find one for another barking pet The Barking tree frog (LOL): It says: "All water given to this pet for drinking, as well as water used for swimming or misting, must be 100% free of chlorine and heavy metals. (Not all home water filtration systems remove 100% of the chlorine and heavy metals from tap water, so check your system's specifications before using it to filter water for your pet.) We recommend that you use unflavored bottled drinking water or bottled natural spring water and never untreated tap water. If tap water is used, you should treat it with a dechlorinating treatment or allow it to stand for at least 24 hours before being introduced to the pet's enclosure to allow the chlorine to escape. Do not use distilled water, which can cause severe medical problems, since it lacks minerals that are essential to important body functions." I know a frog is not the same as a dog but the continuity of the same refrain as for human beings sort of makes me tend to give it some credence.

This is an article from a Doctor we discussed in another thread: Early Death Comes From Drinking Distilled Water titled: Early Death Comes From Drinking Distilled Water It talks about the excellerated aging affects of mineral deficiencies along with acidic bodies. Both problems with using distilled water over time.

I don't think we are going to kill off our dogs with a little distilled water, but it makes sense to NOT use it for extended periods of time. Even a little low on minerals (maybe not even enough to show on blood work) and a little too acidic in blood and body .... and you are robbing some health and maybe time from your pup's life. When filtered or bottled water is perfectly safe and more recommended, why risk it?

I don't get crazy about any of this. If I need to give them tap water when out & about, I don't sweat it. If I needed to use a little distilled water, I would not sweat that either. I have even (gasp) seen them survive lapping a little pool water and worse -- mud puddle water! I just decided to forego the distilled water over any extended time and the same with tap water. Mine actually seem to do fine with the Spring Water. It is what I prefer so they get the same

[LuvTaycieGirl]

The think I find confusing about distilled water is the water that is sold and recommended by many pediatricians is the Nursery Water. I am also NOT saying everyone recommends this either..It is available almost everywhere. It does have added flouride, which I have different feelings about and I think that is also a totally different topic.. different thread But bottom line it is distilled water! So if this is safe for babies, I wonder why people are so scared of it?

I really don't know I am not a scientist or doctor, or vet by ANY means but the more I think about it I think the argument saying it is unsafe seems rather odd. How can water leach chemicals from your body? Water is water and to me it would seem there would be another chemical in it to do that..

As my job as a nanny the lady I work for is the Director of OBGYN. She said many of the doctors USE distilled water for the kidney dialysis machines.. I also thought.. ok they are using something on a extrememly compromised patients.. I found this rather interesting.

I also talked to a friend about this who's family has distilled their own water for many many years.. she does now herself as she said she has become aquired to the taste.. All are in perfect health..

I personally the more I hear the more to me the flip side seems rather off.. How can pure water leach minerals from your body? Seems rather strange to me.. but like I said I am also not properly educated either.. I didn't study this or rather go to school for health.

The more I think about it the more myths I think are really out there... Who know's?.. I could also be believing the wrong side of the myth.

[LuvTaycieGirl]

I just broke down and called my vet. She said it is perfectly safe... and don't believe all the stories you here Rather interesting...

[FlDebra]

Here are some more references:
The drinking of distilled water has been both advocated and discouraged for health reasons. The lack of naturally occurring minerals in distilled water has raised some concerns. The Journal of General Internal Medicine[11] published a study on the mineral contents of different waters available in the US. The study concluded:

"Drinking water sources available to North Americans may contain high levels of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ and may provide clinically important portions of the recommended dietary intake of these minerals. Physicians should encourage patients to check the mineral content of their drinking water, whether tap or bottled, and choose water most appropriate for their needs.
It is often observed that consumption of "hard" water, or water that has some minerals, is associated with beneficial cardiovascular effects. As noted in the American Journal of Epidemiology, consumption of hard drinking water is negatively correlated with atherosclerotic heart disease.[12] Since distilled water is free of minerals, it will not have these potential benefits."

As for the leeching -- when you take in distilled water, it is adding no minerals or electrolytes. But the distilled water does still take the same route through the body and make a person have to pee. When you eliminate, you do still lose these minerals and electrolytes. The kidneys do not filter out all the minerals and electrolytes. Some are used by the body but some are also always eliminated when you pee. Not replacing them by SOME means, can lead to health problems. There are some health situations where distilled water IS recommended. Some health conditions actually are not benfited by additional minerals.

I doubt it is a monumental health benefit or detriment -- but since the benefits of the minerals is known and the acidity problems are known...... I will err on the side of caution and routinely give my dogs NON-distilled water. I don't think anyone who chooses to use distilled water will see a massive health problem, but if even a year was cut from my pups' lives, I would feel terrible. Just want them to have all that I canprovide for a healthy and long life. Even little things add up over their lifetime.

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by LuvTaycieGirl

I just broke down and called my vet. She said it is perfectly safe... and don't believe all the stories you here Rather interesting...

The only problem with that statement is that vet's are not nutritionists. There is a big difference. I think it's too early to make that determination without long-term testing. Consider this:

The World Health Organization investigated the health effects of demineralized water in 1980, and its experiments in humans found that demineralized water increased diuresis and the elimination of electrolytes, with decreased serum potassium concentration. Magnesium, calcium and other nutrients in water can help to protect against nutritional deficiency. Demineralized water may also increase the risk from toxic metals because it more readily absorbs them, and because the presence of calcium and magnesium in water can prevent absorption of lead and cadmium. Recommendations for magnesium have been put at a minimum of 10 mg/L with 20–30 mg/L optimum; for calcium a 20 mg/L minimum and a 40–80 mg/L optimum, and a total water hardness (adding magnesium and calcium) of 2–4 mmol/L. At water hardness above 5 mmol/L, higher incidence of gallstones, kidney stones, urinary stones, arthrosis, and arthropathies have been observed. For fluoride the concentration recommended for dental health is 0.5–1.0 mg/L, with a maximum guideline value of 1.5 mg/L to avoid dental fluorosis.[18]

Purified water - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[LuvTaycieGirl]

No, I agree Vets are not nutritionists but neither am I.

As a responsible pet owner I always have Taycie's health and concern first and foremost and choose to educate myself the best way I know possible. I called my vet to seek advice not to finalize a decision.

I also try to look at things on both sides and try to learn and have an open mind. Obviously, I did read the other side of the argument and while I had a hard time understanding the chemistry side of things, I do see why it could be dangerous to your health.

I appreciate all the info

[Ringo1]

I know the yahoo group I belong to for dogs with liver issues - always recommended the use of distilled water for them. I can't remember all the reasoning behind it.

I did it until we bought a new home with a filtered water system.

Now I just use that.

I remember that even on the Yahoo Group - people were beginning to question if distilled water was the right thing to give.

[Nancy1999]

I do want to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, I had been considering a reverse osmosis filtering system for whole house, and now that I've learned that it is almost the same as using distilled water, as it also takes out minerals, I'm wondering if that's a good choice. Would anyone care to read this link and tell me what they think? Reverse Osmosis Water Filter Guide - Truth, Lies, Minerals & Your Health - a knol by Nicholas Wise Basically, they are saying that tap water contains inorganic minerals not the good organic minerals we get from fruit and vergetables and these inorganic minerals (primary culprits are calcium salts) and over time they can cause gallstones, kidney stones, bone & joint calcification, arthritis, and hardening and blocking our arteries.