What Water Is Best for Your Dog to Drink?

1 What Water Should Your Dog Drink?

I. Can Dogs Drink Tap Water?

Generally tap water is not advised, because it holds fairly high levels of heavy metals, bacteria and leftover chlorine from disinfection.

If you want to give tap water, boil it and let it cool first — boiling kills most bacteria and lets the chlorine evaporate, making it safe for both people and dogs. But boiled water left too long grows harmful microbes, so change it for fresh boiled water daily and wash the bowl often. If you have a good water filter at home, filtered tap water is also fine; unboiled filtered water keeps more dissolved oxygen, which is better for the dog.

II. Can Dogs Drink Bottled or Jug Water?

This means bottled or jug mineral water, purified water and packaged drinking water.

1. Mineral water. Natural underground water with some minerals, trace elements and carbon dioxide. A little mineral is good, but long-term intake can push minerals too high, burden the kidneys and even cause urinary stones, so occasional is fine but not daily.

2. Purified water. Treated water that, besides water molecules, contains almost nothing else, so it is safe to drink — but make sure the diet supplies enough minerals to avoid deficiency.

3. Packaged drinking water. Usually sterilized tap or surface water with minerals added for taste, but brands differ in what and how much they add, so it is also not recommended long-term.

III. Can Dogs Drink Rain or River Water?

Rain and river water are the least advised, because of serious environmental pollution — most contain heavy metals and harmful chemicals that badly affect health over time. But if you live where nature is pristine and the river is clearly clean, river water can be considered.

In short, boiled water and purified water are the better everyday choices; other waters can be drunk but not long-term. Also avoid juice, strong tea, coffee and cola, which harm the dog’s health.