When a pet gets older or ill, the vet may tell you that your beloved friend is in kidney failure. What does this mean? It means that the kidneys are not functioning as they should, and depending on the diagnoses or related involvements, it may mean that that your pet stands a chance of getting dehydrated. This puts your pet at risk for other diseases and complications as a result of the dehydration.
Sometimes the vet will recommend Pedialyte, a product used with individuals (especially children) who are dehydrated, as it helps balance the electrolytes and restore the balance of certain minerals. Other treatments may include intravenous fluids administered in the vet's office or other fluid injections under the skin.
There is a product that is very effective in hydrating your pet (see my eHow article, "How to Get Your Cat to Drink More Water") and it can be purchased at SOME health food stores, or online at www.Willardswater.com. They have a great sale going on right now, and this author just this day took advantage of the sale for the same reason this article is being written.
Willard water is a catalyst altered water, and the exact process behind the manufacture of it is patented. The actual contents of it are unremarkable. It is not the contents that make this water "wetter," it is the process by which it is created. It was invented by a man who was trying to create a completely different product, and when he came up with this entirely non-toxic, scentless but amazing product, it was marketed for a myriad of other uses instead.
Currently, it is used by people internally and externally, by pet owners, breeders and just about anyone that ever heard of it. For the purposes of this article, it is known to be a terrific method of hydration.
Willard water is "wetter" than water, and it absorbs into the cells of animals and plants faster and more effectively. When mixed with an animal's water, the body hydrates better and the loss of kidney function is less destructive. The constant drinking behavior lessens considerably, with the body filling out as a well-hydrated animal should be. This information is not given without personal experience.
Try this product if you are struggling to keep your pet hydrated. An eight oz. bottle makes 4-8 gallons, depending on the kind you purchase, so don't let the price get in the way. One small bottle will last a very long time. There are other benefits to this product that this article does not address, so please get more information online, and see if you can get in on the sale at that address, which was good as of 8/3/09 and is a two-for-one offer. I have no connection to that business, but am a very grateful customer for that product.
Things You'll Need
- Willard Water
Instructions
Learn more about Willard Water online, and wherever you purchase it, you may see two kinds. One is a dark liquid, which is Willard Water with Lignite in it. The other is clear. Both are equally effective, and the lignite will not interfere with the action of the product, nor does it lend a smell of any kind. Willard Water has a very slight "dirt" smell to it, but when two ounces are mixed into a gallon of clean water as it is supposed to be for use, this slight scent goes away.
Use this straight AFTER it is mixed for drinking, or you can add it to the drinking water (capful) out of the bottle. Initially you may want to use it straight if your pet is having serious dehydration issues. You can back off a bit later, but you cannot hurt your pet with this.
Rehydrate a sick pet with it. If you give your pet forced liquids, this can be used for that as well. You can bathe the pet in it the same way as you would bathe them normally, but the action of Willard Water is to enter into the cells more effectively than water, so if you bathe your pet with it, you might want to choose a baby shampoo or organic shampoo that doesn't have chemicals in it, especially if your pet is ill. It is very soothing, and will help your pet relax, even if it is just sprayed in the air around it. Bathing your pet in this will make the fur soft and shiny.
Mix some in with the pets food if eating is not a problem. You can put Willard Water in wet food, with tuna water or any way your dog or cat will enjoy it. Keep the water bowl only half full instead of all the way full if you usually have to throw out half a bowl of water when you freshen it, to keep from having to waste the Willard Water.
Throw leftover Willard Water on a house or yard plant. Plants thrive on it, and the growth of the plant will accelerate noticeably over the next year or so and it will be healthier. It enables the plant to uptake water and nutrients from the soil much better. You can find this information online, also, just put in "Willard Water Plants" and you should find all the information. There is printed material on it also, but it is also called "Catalyst Altered Water," so you can look under that as well.
Give this product to other household pets that are not ill also, as that will not harm them at all, and should help keep them healthier. If you buy the dark kind, they may sniff and look at you funny (cats, of course) but they drink it with no problem. Once it is diluted, it takes on a slight tan color, unlike the bottle, which looks almost black, but don't let that scare you off - that's just the lignite.
Learning about Willard Water will make you wonder how you ever did without it! It has almost unlimited uses. If you want more time with your pet, this product will help you get that.