The Power of Hydration: Beyond the Water Bowl
Did you know that mild dehydration is one of the most overlooked issues in pets today? And surprisingly, it’s not always because they aren’t drinking water. It’s often because of what’s in their food bowl.
When I first got Zaner and I'll admit, I didn't know much about pet food. I saw commercials and I saw rows of kibble at the pet stores, so that's what I fed him. When I first switched him to a freeze dried raw diet, rehydrated with bone broth, I noticed a big change in his routine! When he was eating a dry food diet, he would get up in the morning, go outside to do some business, then come in for a big drink before lounging on the couch before our walk.
When I started feeding him his moisture rich freeze dried diet, the morning drink completely disappeared! Not because he consciously decided to change his routine, but because he was getting sufficient moisture in his diet! He wasn't regularly dehydrated anymore. That was an amazing fluke for me, I didn't even realize the benefits I was providing by adding moisture to his food!
Most dry foods only contain 10% moisture. Compare that to a species-appropriate fresh, raw food diet, which naturally contains 65 to 75% moisture, exactly what dogs and cats need to thrive. When our pets eat moisture-deficient food day after day, it puts chronic strain on their kidneys, liver and digestive system. Over time, that can lead to serious health concerns. I'm glad I figured that out when I did with Zaner and I want to make sure you know too!
Why Moisture Matters
Your pet’s body is made up of about 70% water. Just like us, every organ in their body depends on proper hydration to function well. When they don’t get enough, it can lead to:
- Constipation and digestive upset
- Urinary crystals, UTIs and kidney stress (especially in cats)
- Low energy and reduced detoxification
- Dry itchy skin and a dull coat
💧 Easy Ways to Add Moisture to Your Pet’s Diet
Whether you feed kibble, a raw food diet or anything in between, every pet benefits from a little hydration help. Here are some easy, nutritious ways to sneak more moisture into your pet’s diet, without relying on their water bowl.
🥛 Raw Goat Milk – A nutrient-rich superfood that hydrates and supports gut health with natural probiotics and tummy taming capabilities.
🦴 Bone Broth – Great for joints, digestion and hydration. But that's not all! Bone broth helps support the skin and coat, heart and nervous system and it can help reduce or eliminate tear stains by detoxing the liver.
🥚 Raw Eggs – High in moisture protein and healthy fats. Any egg is good egg so however your furry guy likes their eggs is beneficial! For small floofs, look at quail eggs so we don't overdo the calories while amping up the bowl!
🐟 Sardines in Water – Loaded with omega-3s and a natural moisture boost. Avoid salted or seasoned versions if you're buying cans of sardines. Alternatively, look at frozen sardines to boost the bowl and improve your pet's hydration without having to have a stinky can of fish in your fridge.
🍄 Mushroom Broths – Chaga or Reishi blends can hydrate and support immunity, especially for pets dealing with seasonal allergies. Any mushroom we can buy in the grocery store is purrfectly safe for the furry guys and if you've been with us a while, you know how much we love adding mushrooms to any pet's diet!
Want to take it one step further? A rotational diet is key for any furry guy and rotating hyration-rich options into your furry guy's bowl is ideal! Rotate in hydrated freeze-dried raw food, wet food toppers, fresh food from your own fridge or any little bit of raw food to give their body extra support. This is especially important during warmer months or for pets prone to urinary issues, but it's still key all year long!
Bonus Tip 🐶💧
If your pet is scratching like granny with a fresh lottery ticket, it might not just be allergies. Moisture-deficient diets can cause dehydrated skin, which leads to itching and irritation. A fresh food diet, plus hydrating add-ons like broth or goat milk can help soothe the skin from the inside out. Remember, we are what we eat! Garbage in, garbage out! There are a ton of clichés we could spew out to make the point, but we already know you get it! Diet and hydration are key to keeping our pets healthy and happy!
If you need tips, or think maybe your furry family's diet is lacking in the moisture side of things, we're always happy to help! Pop by and we'll find a great hydrating option your floof will love that's good for them too!