It is the foundation of life and the most important substance in the body of every animal [1]. Although it does not provide energy like classic macronutrients, it is an environment for all biochemical processes in the body. It is responsible for transporting nutrients, regulating body temperature (panting in dogs), digestion and excreting toxins in urine. Cats (as animals descended from desert ancestors) by nature have a poorly developed thirst center, evolutionarily they obtain water almost exclusively from the bodies of prey (raw meat consists of approximately 70-75% of water), therefore on the BRAF/BACF diet they very rarely quench their thirst directly from the [2] bowl.
What it contains: Pure water, raw meat, vegetables, fruit.
Deficiency: Dehydration of ~12-15% is immediately fatal. It is important that your pet has constant access to clean and fresh water at all times.
Excess: The so-called Hypotonic overhydration (water intoxication) is extremely rare and occurs most often in dogs (it is rare in cats), usually during very intense play with a garden hose or prolonged retrieval from water. This leads to a drastic drop in sodium concentration in the blood, brain swelling, seizures, and in extreme cases, death [1].
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals
- Hand MS, Thatcher CD, Remillard RL, Roudebush P, Novotny BJ (2010). Small Animal Clinical Nutrition, 5th Edition. https://www.markmorrisinstitute.org/sacn5.html
- Buckley CMF, Hawthorne A, Colyer A, Stevenson AE (2011). Effect of dietary water intake on urinary output, specific gravity and relative supersaturation for calcium oxalate and struvite in the cat. British Journal of Nutrition 106(Suppl 1):S128–30. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22005408/
- International Renal Interest Society (IRIS). CKD Risk Factors. https://www.iris-kidney.com/ckd-risk-factors