Sparkling water, as the name suggests has a spark in it. And, this spark comes from carbon dioxide gas that is dissolved in it.
But, can dogs drink sparkling water! Does this question often pop up in your head?
Well, there are no such scientific elements that suggest that sparkling water is bad for human health. It is believed to improve digestion because of the presence of an acidity regulator i.e., carbon dioxide in it.
But what’s safe for us humans aren’t necessarily safe for dogs too, right?
Keeping in mind all the drinking values for your pup, we have come up with some best insights on sparkling water for dogs and other carbonated drinks.
Keep reading, because, you are about to decide if it is safe to offer Sparkling water to dogs or not!
Can Dogs Drink Sparkling Water?
Can dogs drink sparkling water? Here is the straightforward answer, i.e., No!
Your dog must not drink sparkling water. We aren’t saying that sparkling water is specifically harmful to dogs’ health. But it can cause issues. And the main reason for the same is carbon dioxide present in it.
If a pup has accidentally drank some sparkling water or if you have given it intentionally, it won’t impose much effect on your dog’s health immediately.
And now, you must be wondering; can I give my dog sparkling water regularly then?
Well, there’s a huge difference between consuming a small amount of sparkling water and drinking it properly to satisfy your thrust.
If it will become their regular habit to drink carbonated water in huge quantities, they will face health problems in future.
Moreover, your dog won’t be able to differentiate between regular water and sparkling water. And, even if they like it and can digest it for a while, they still might not be able to hold it for long.
With that being mentioned, they will start showing the symptoms of the initial health problems
Side-Effects Of Sparkling Water
- Bloating
Since the water has carbon dioxide in it, there are high chances that this gas will stay in the dog’s stomach and will cause bloating. The more they drink sparkling water, the more they bloat.
Therefore, if your dog has drunk a small amount of sparkling water, it will be able to get rid of that minor bloat within a day.
But in any other case, like consuming a lot of carbonated water to drinking it regularly, dog will further suffer from the following illness:
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting
- Pain in the abdomen due to trapped gas
- A swollen stomach
- Rapid breathing or painting due to the discomfort caused by carbonated water present in the stomach.
- Restlessness and distress to get rid of the discomfort.
And while bloating might not be a huge issue for us humans, it can be dangerous for your dog to bloat for a longer period.
They might not be able to release the trapped gas naturally. And that is when you know you have to consult the vet.
- Enamel erosion
Enamel erosion is painful and often calls for surgeries in dogs. This is why are kept away from carbonated drinks. Hence, keeping the sparkling water away from your dog’s reach will be a wise decision.
- Gastric Dilatation-volvulus or GDV
In some cases of extreme bloating, it can lead to the stomach getting enlarged, swollen, and twisted. This condition is called GDV which is fatal too.
When the stomach is twisted due to bloating caused by carbonated water, the major blood vessels supplying blood tissues and oxygen to the nearby organs get twisted too.
And since they all get obstructed, none of them can do their job at all.
This further results in the death of important tissues rapidly. Hence, visiting the vet asap is very crucial.
Moreover, while surgeries are required to perform to fix the twisted stomach, sometimes they aren’t successful either. So, now you know can dogs drink sparkling water or not.
But, if the situation arises, when you have no other option of liquid available to satisfy your dog’s thrust, but a carbonated drink, always remember to give sparkling wated in minimal quantity to avoid any health concerns.
Moving ahead, sometimes, many pet owners wonder that if not sparkling water, can dogs drink seltzer water?
Well, you may not know the similarities and difference between sparkling water and Seltzer water. So let’s know more!
Sparkling Water Vs Seltzer Water
Seltzer water and sparkling water are both carbonated waters.
The only difference here is the origin of their spark. If there is a natural spark or presence of carbon dioxide bubbles in the water, it is sparkling water.
If there are any artificial additives in it to create the bubbles, it is seltzer water.
And since we are talking about carbonated water altogether, and you wonder, if sparkling water is bad for dogs, then can dogs drink seltzer water?
Well, if you have to make a choice between the two, then only you can prefer Sparkling water over Seltzer Water, but in small quantity.
But don’t even think of giving seltzer water to your dog as it has artificial bubbles and additives in it. It is majorly harmful to their health.
Moreover, these are not the only drinks that you should avoid. There are some more that are easily available and highly dangerous ones. Keep reading and see if you have ever served them to your pup!
Other Carbonated Drinks To Avoid!
There are plenty of things you must avoid giving to your doggo at any cost. Here’s a list of them all:
- Caffeine
While caffeine is added to every other thing that we humans consume, it is still not good for our health. And when animals or dogs are concerned, we must keep caffeine and everything that is infused with caffeine, away from their reach.
This is because they are more susceptible to the effects of caffeine than humans. Therefore, you shouldn’t give coffee, sodas, and other caffeinated drinks to your dogs.
Even if they insist and even if you don’t have any other option to feed them.
Because your dog won’t handle its toxicity. And the toxins that your dog has to go through are:
- Hyperexcitability
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting
- Seizures
- Tachycardia
- Collapse
- Arrhythmia
- Death
In case you find any of these signs in your dog after it has consumed caffeine, consult your vet asap.
- Sugar
A very popular ingredient that almost everyone knows isn’t good for animals, especially dogs. Whether it’s raw sugar or food and drinks made with sugar, none of it is fit for dog consumption.
Reasons being, weight gain, tooth enamel, and itching.
Not only artificial sugar but even natural sugar that is present in fruits and dry fruits are also harmful to dogs and hence must be kept away from them.
- Xylitol
Xylitol is found in much low sugar or sugar-free items. So, if you think by giving sugar-free items to your dog, you are saving them from consuming sugar, think again!
And while xylitol is a natural ingredient, the way it is processed into a powder is what makes it harmful to dogs. Consuming it will make your dog’s pancreas secrete large amounts of insulin in their body with will cause frequent low blood sugar levels.
A dog suffering from xylitol can show the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Pale gums
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Increased heart rate
- Death
So, avoid giving them xylitol-infused products and visit a vet when you see any of the signs mentioned above.
Besides, if your dog has accidentally consumed any carbonated drink, and didn’t show any symptoms initially. You should be well aware before hand about their check-ups as well.
When To Visit A Vet?
- In case your dog has consumed a good amount of sparkling water to fulfil their thrust, instead of rushing to the vet immediately, take some time to study your dog. If they show any odd symptoms, visit a vet asap.
- But if the dog still looks fine, stop worrying much about it. And make sure to keep the sparkling water away from your dog from now on. Also, before we let you go, here are some quick benefits of water that you must check out.
Now after knowing so much about sparkling water and their reaction to the pup, you must be wondering what type of drink or water they can have, right?
We have the solutions too! Keep reading!
Best Drinks To Offer A Dog
To help you to take care of your doggy’s health, we would like to tell you some of the best drink options that you can offer your pup to quinch its thrust while safeguarding it from any ill effect:
- Mineral water
- If your dog is healthy with good digestion, you can also feed him tap water.
- Apart from water, plain milk is also safe for dog consumption. Warm milk, room temperature milk, or chilled milk, anything will work. But try to avoid adding anything like sugar to their bowl of milk.
PRO-Tips To Serve Drinks To The Dog
- Believe it or not, but plain water is the best thing to give to your dog’s when they are thirsty. Anything apart from that is just not suggested.
- When it’s too hot and your dog is dehydrated, you can add an ice cube to their water bowl or just give them cold water from the fridge instead of tap water.
- While tap water is also safe for dogs, it lacks minerals that are present in mineral water. So, if you can, try to give bottled mineral water to your dog. It will provide them with the necessary minerals and safety too.
- Also, while bottled water will have more minerals, it won’t make any major difference to your dog’s health.
Whether you opt for normal tap water from your kitchen or bottled mineral water from the store, neither in taste nor in physical health is it going to make any difference in your dog’s life. - Warm milk, room temperature milk, or chilled milk, anything will work. But try to avoid adding anything like sugar to their bowl of milk.
Benefits Of Drinking Water
Here are some benefits of drinking water for both humans and animals. Read them to know why is it important for your dog and you as well.
- It helps in maintaining healthy bold pressure by keeping our vines clean. Lack of water can disrupt the required blood pressure level.
- Water is the ultimate cleanser as it eliminates toxins from the body through urine and keeps it clean and healthy.
Lack of water will give space for these toxins to get collected and multiply inside our bodies. - It promotes digestion and helps body cells to boost metabolic functions.
- Water helps in lubricating the eyes, joints, and mucous membrane in the body.
- Drinking water increases skin elasticity as the skin stays hydrated and has natural moisture. Lack of water will do exactly the opposite of it.
And that’s all folks on can dogs drink sparkling water. Now that you know it all, start practicing the given details in your dog’s daily life.
To Sum Up:
There are things that our beloved dogs can do and then there are things that are not safe for them. One such thing is consuming sparkling water.
We just dived deep into the details to know can dogs drink sparkling water or not.
And with that quest, we not only got the answer to our main question. But also got to know many dos and don’ts, facts, and theories about dogs and their water.
So, to know more and keep yourself updated, visit this space often.
Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Eggplant
