Danger of drought, watch out for the hydration of our four-legged friends

It will be a drought-filled summer.And it won't just be us who suffer, but also the animals we live with.How important is water for them?

They've been talking about it for a long time now.The rising heat and the increasingly scarce rainfall are opening the disturbing scenario of drought.And, when we talk about this phenomenon, our thoughts immediately go tosummer which is the season par excellence without, or with few, showers.But this is not always the case and, sometimes, drought also coincides with other periods of the year.On the contrary.If the phenomenon occurs in time autumnal or even winter becomes more serious and dangerous.And i climate changes of recent years are leading us to take these atmospheric aspects to the extreme, abundantly "seasoned" with various types of problems.Not least the proliferation of parasites like them ticks which can seriously undermine the health of humans and animals.Given what is happening, therefore, I think it is time to understand the problem a little better and take a look at thehydration necessary for our four-legged friends who could be affected by water rationing.

What is drought

What exactly do we mean by drought?This is a normal and recurring characteristic of the climate and is linked to the concept of temporary water deficit.The impacts of drought can vary based on its characteristics and the water demand for different uses.The studies of the climate researcher Kelly Redmond In the 2002 define drought as a “condition of water insufficiency to meet needs”.The phenomenon differs conceptually fromaridity because the latter is a permanent feature of the climate that occurs in those areas where there is a permanent water deficit due to lack of rain.

Drought is not a mere physical phenomenon.The cumulative effect of rainfall scarcity over time has different impacts on society, being the result of the interaction between natural hazards (reduction in rainfall below average) and water needs for various uses.For this reason, drought is often identified as four types:meteorological, agricultural, hydrological and socio-economic.

• There meteorological drought it is the reduction of precipitation below the climatological average (at least thirty years), for a certain period (days, months, years), in a given area.
• That agricultural it is identified, however, in the reduction of water availability (due to low rainfall and increased evapotranspiration) in the root zone of the soil which has an impact on the optimal growth of plants.
• There hydrological implies a reduction of water resources (streams, lakes and underground aquifers) below a given threshold for a certain period, due to a persistent contraction (reduction) of rainfall.
• Finally that socio-economic it is associated with water demand/supply related to economic goods and needs.During particularly intense and extensive droughts of this type, the allocation of water resources for common human activities can be compromised.

These, in summary, are the technical definitions of the period we are going through.But in front of a water rationing In our country, how should we behave for the well-being and health of our animal friends?We turned the question over to the veterinary nutritionist – la Doctor Chiara Draws – who told us some important things regarding the hydration of our four-legged friends and explained to us some often unknown mechanisms on the ability of dogs and cats to adapt to the environment.Even and especially in times of water scarcity.

Water in dog food… 

The drought problem hits hard first of all wild animals, for which there is also the specter of arson or otherwise fires which, like every year, infest our peninsula.However, leaving aside wildlife, it is good to consider the four-legged friends who brighten our life at home.Let's start with some data.The water requirement in a dog at rest varies from 50-80 ml per kilo of weight and in general it is greater in subjects of small size and in young.This need is met both with drinking water and with water present in food.“Everything varies greatly depending on the environmental conditions, the physiological state, the type of diet and any pathological conditions of the dog.For example one fresh diet, consisting of meat, fish And vegetables manages to satisfy almost entirely the water needs.Obviously when the dog plays sports or we are in the warmer seasons, diet alone will not be sufficient and the animal will necessarily have to drink water", he explains Chiara Draws.

Here, therefore, is the explanation of the wording that is found in many - in all, it would be better to say - both dry and wet industrial foods intended for dogs:“always leave a bowl of water available”.If the animal is thirsty, in fact, thanks to the hot climate, physical activity or simply a few too many snacks, the bowl of fresh water must never be missing near him.

…and cats

And let's move on to cat.“It takes approx 50 ml of water per kg of body weight per day and, also in this case, the requirement is covered with free water and that present in food.In the wild, eating prey such as small mammals and birds that contain approximately the 70 percent of humidity, the cat covers almost all of its water needs.Just like a feline that eats wet food, with a water content of80 percent, can cover the requirement entirely,” continues the expert.

However, the situation regarding the commercial dry diets which contain a maximum of humidity 10 percent.In this case, cats must necessarily drink water.And it is essential that they do so.Sometimes, however, the house cat disdains the bowl - in this he behaves differently from the dog - and risks death. dehydration and the resulting problems.

Some tips to entice animals to drink

Usually this doesn't happen with dogs, but it is also true that many subjects do not like to drink much and, above all, if fed with a home-made diet or with the Barf, they disdain water and, perhaps, they happily drink from the first pool of humidity they find in the countryside.What to do, then?

Here are some little tricks:

• replace the water with a very diluted broth, perhaps prepared by boiling a piece of meat with carrot and celery;
• add a drop of olive oil to the bowl.It flavors the water and makes it more palatable;
• use large, well-cleaned bowls (especially for cats, the edges must never touch the whiskers);
• put fountains in the house or garden to have a constant change of water.

In conclusion, therefore, water is essential for everyone, humans and other animals, and with the scorching heat of these days and the consequent increase in the need for hydration of all of us, particular attention also goes to the water intake of dogs and cats.Without forgetting the small inhabitants of the air.A small bowl of water on the balcony or terrace will help birds metropolitan.Let's not forget this because, never more than in this period, drinking is essential for them too.