3 key nutrients to keep your dog hydrated
The dog days of summer are almost here. Time to make sure your dog is prepared.
Your dog’s body functions off a few key but non-negotiable necessities — all of which are even more important when the weather gets intense. Hydration is one, and most susceptible in high temperatures and higher heat.
Most dogs are recommended to intake at least one ounce of water per pound of body weight a day. The more your dog spends time outdoors, the more they may require. While enough daily water breaks might do the trick, it’s important to mind your dog’s diet too. Hydration can come from many sources: fruits, vegetables, and protein alike.
Before the days get too hot, make sure your dog is parch-protected with the right nutrition.
Fatty acids are critical to hydrated skin.
The top layer of your dog’s skin is naturally composed of fatty acids that help protect the skin barrier and rehydrate the body. So while it may sound strange to replenish water content with fats, it’s necessary — and will actually help stabilize your dog’s weight in the process.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is full of medium-chain fatty acids (also recognized as MCTs), a healthy fat that helps balance the thyroid and stabilize weight. These fatty acids are known to be particularly moisturizing, and are used to help repair the skin barrier. When added to their diet, coconut oil naturally moisturizes, eases itchy skin, soothes skin inflammation, and keeps your dog’s fur looking shiny as ever.
Omega 3:6
Infamous for its extraordinarily-hydrating properties, Omega 3:6 fatty acids are essential to your dog’s wellbeing. Found most concentrated in fish oils (a central ingredient in Maev’s Hair & Skin formula), Omega-3 and Omega-6 help to direct nourishing and healthy fats to your dog’s skin barrier — reducing shedding, easing hot spots, and working wonders on inflamed skin.
Amino acids
Amino acids are some of the most essential building blocks of any dog’s nutrition. There are 10 that your dog can’t live without — responsible not only for powering your dog’s energy and digestion, but also for increasing water absorption, retention, and replenishing electrolytes.
The sheer importance of these nutrients is the #1 reason why raw diets are your dog’s best nutrition — amino acids are most plentiful and absorbable in their uncooked state.
Add a super-hydrating topper like Bone Broth to your dog’s summer bowls.
Some dogs can clear a water bowl in 30 minutes. Others you may have to beg. Either way, the summer months are especially dehydrating for all dogs. To help combat easily-avoidable dehydration — which can lead to irritation, inflammation, and overall reduced immunity — try adding a delicious topper to your dog’s water or food bowls.
Maev’s frozen Bone Broth works great on both, and entices dogs to fully finish their meals with an extra hydration boost. The best part? To your dog, it tastes like a treat. 😉
