Is distilled water safe?

[LuvTaycieGirl]

Do your babies drink this? I read it helps tear staining. Just wondering what your thoughts were on this.

Thanks!

[Rhetts_mama]

Drinking distilled water over time can cause mineral deficiencies.

[Nancy1999]

There's two types of distilled water, one is meant for use in such things as steam irons, and it not packaged in the right type of plastic bottles that are safe for drinking, they may contain a chemical that has been known to cause cancer, also, it may have lots of bacteria in it. Another type of distilled water actually says "safe for drinking". It's meant to be used in baby's formulas, and also has an expiration date. We had to use distilled water when Joey was a puppy because he had a problem with tears, and the distilled water stopped the tears. I thought they got some minerals in their food.

[AprilLove]

Mine have been drinking distilled water for the past three years. No tear stains, no problems and they are healthy. I believe if you feed them properly, all the minerals/electrolytes they need will be included in their diet. There are lots of myths out there.

Here is some fodder related to the subject of drinking distilled, lots of opinion but there doesn't seem to be a lot of scientific evidence either way. Good links from this page:

[Distilled water for drinking?]. [Med Monatsschr Pharm. 1993] - PubMed result

[LuvTaycieGirl]

Originally Posted by AprilLove

Mine have been drinking distilled water for the past three years. No tear stains, no problems and they are healthy. I believe if you feed them properly, all the minerals/electrolytes they need will be included in their diet. There are lots of myths out there.

Here is some fodder related to the subject of drinking distilled, lots of opinion but there doesn't seem to be a lot of scientific evidence either way. Good links from this page:

[Distilled water for drinking?]. [Med Monatsschr Pharm. 1993] - PubMed result

Thanks for the Link! I will be checking it out I have also read that the minerals/electrolytes are so minuscule in water that it doesn't really make a difference. But it seems to be a controversial thing... Thanks for the tip! Good to know!

[jennzy]

sorry i got a dumb question but what is distilled water?
i always thought distilled water was dasani water from coca cola company or just boiling tap water?

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by jennzy

sorry i got a dumb question but what is distilled water?
i always thought distilled water was dasani water from coca cola company or just boiling tap water?

The distillation process involves heating the water to the point where it turns to steam. As the steam rises, those heavier contaminants and minerals remain solid. The steam is then collected and allowed to condense, returning it to its natural state. Regular bottled water is just filtered water and it contains minerals.

[Teresamag]

Just wondering? I'm not sure I understand this. If you are using distilled water to prevent tear staining but they are getting minerals in their food how does this help? Aren't they getting the same minerals in their food as what are removed from their distilled water? Please help me understand this.

Teresa

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Teresamag

Just wondering? I'm not sure I understand this. If you are using distilled water to prevent tear staining but they are getting minerals in their food how does this help? Aren't they getting the same minerals in their food as what are removed from their distilled water? Please help me understand this.

Teresa

No one really know why it works for some dogs, I do know that some water contains way more minerals than we need, and maybe this excess of minerals causes tearing? Here's a good link on tearing and causes and cures, what works for one person's dog, may not work for yours. Tear Staining: The Causes & Cures

[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.

[Mollysmom411999]

Great info. everyone, I did not realize any of this about distilled water use over time. Thats why I like this forum, so many knowlegable people!

[Teresamag]

I've lived in two houses in the last 16 years and both had their own wells so we aren't on any city water source and don't have anything added to the water (floride or clorine). We live in an area where there are lots of limestone rocks so they probably filter the groundwater very well (our well is tested every other year to make sure it stays uncontaminated). None of my dogs have ever had tear staining so I guess the well water works very well for them (and us - it tastes so good compared to "city water").

Teresa

[Princes mom]

I saw on Animal Planet a few months ago that dogs should drink distilled water...never tap. Filtered water is second best, according to the show. I give Ian (and gave Prince) distilled or filtered.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

I saw on Animal Planet a few months ago that dogs should drink distilled water...never tap. Filtered water is second best, according to the show. I give Ian (and gave Prince) distilled or filtered.

I hate to say this, but there is a lot of inaccurate information on Animal Planet, they seem to take one "expert's" opinion, and don't really check it up. I think if you read lots of different information, you will find that distilled water over a long time, could leach minerals out of your dogs body, and your dog may become mineral deficient. For short periods of time, it probably does no harm, as long as the type you buy says, safe for drinking.

[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.