We sat down with two experts who've made it their mission to change the way we think about what's in our pets' water bowls. Nathalie is the founder of Pawer Water, a pet hydration wellness brand and has spent years researching how hydration and overall wellness are deeply interconnected. Tanya is a Head Canine Nutritionist with over a decade of clinical experience across both human and pet nutrition. Here's what they had to say.
Let's start simple. Why is hydration such a big deal for pets?
Nathalie: It underpins everything. Every single bodily function, digestion, joint lubrication, organ health, temperature regulation, nutrient transport, depends on adequate hydration. And yet it's one of the last things most pet parents think about. We obsess over food quality, training, enrichment. But water? It's often an afterthought.
Tanya: From a nutritional standpoint, water is actually a nutrient, arguably the most important one. A dog can lose almost half their body fat and survive but lose just 10–15% of their body water and it becomes life-threatening. The body prioritises hydration above almost everything else.
So why do pet parents dismiss it so often?
Tanya: Because animals are good at hiding discomfort. Dogs especially. They evolved as prey animals too, showing weakness isn't in their instinct. So, a dog who is mildly dehydrated day after day might just seem a little quieter, a little less enthusiastic. You put it down to age, to the weather, to having a lazy day. You don't connect it to what's in their water bowl.
Nathalie: There's also a false assumption that if water is available, the animal is drinking enough. But think about it from their perspective. Tap water in many areas has a flat, mineral-heavy taste. Dry kibble pulls moisture from the body just to be digested. Some dogs, especially smaller breeds, are naturally low drinkers. Just having a bowl out doesn't mean the need is being met.
What are the key signs that a pet might be dehydrated?
Tanya: The earlier, softer signs are what I want pet owners to look for. Dry or sticky gums. They should be moist and slippery. Sunken eyes or a dull coat. Lethargy that you can't quite explain. Reduced appetite, because dehydration suppresses hunger. Dark, concentrated urine, or urinating less frequently than usual. And one people often miss: excessive panting even when the dog hasn't been exercising. That's the body working overtime to regulate temperature without enough fluid.
Nathalie: Cats are even harder to read because they naturally have a low thirst drive. They're designed to get most of their moisture from prey. A cat on dry food who barely touches their water bowl is a very common picture, and it puts real strain on the kidneys over time.
Why does this matter beyond just "being thirsty"?
Tanya: Chronic mild dehydration is one of those slow-burn issues that doesn't announce itself, until it does. Long-term, it contributes to urinary tract problems, kidney disease, digestive issues like constipation, and joint deterioration because cartilage needs water to stay cushioned. In older dogs especially, we often see cognitive dullness and fatigue that improves dramatically once hydration is properly addressed.
Nathalie: I'd add that even short-term dehydration has immediate effects on mood and energy. A dog that seems tired, less engaged or not quite themselves may sometimes be affected by inadequate hydration and many other factors. anxious, restless, or difficult to focus during training. Sometimes that's a hydration issue. The brain is about 75% water, and it relies on adequate hydration to function optimally. Even mild dehydration can influence energy levels and more levels. When fluid levels drop, the first thing affected is neurological function. We just don't connect those dots for our animals the way we would for ourselves.
You both talk a lot about electrolytes. Why aren't they more mainstream in pet care?
Tanya: Electrolytes so sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, are the minerals that govern how fluid actually moves into and out of cells. Water alone doesn't hydrate at the cellular level. Without electrolytes in the right balance, water passes through the body rather than being absorbed. This is well understood in human sports nutrition. It's been understood in veterinary medicine for decades when treating illness. But it somehow hasn't translated into everyday preventative care. And to be clear, this isn't about replacing water. Fresh, clean water is non-negotiable. It's about what you add alongside it. One and the other, not one or the other.
Nathalie: Exactly. The conversation has been dominated by "drink more water," full stop and clean water absolutely has to be the foundation. But we can do more with that foundation. Think of it as upgrading water. A dog who's been running in the park, a cat in a warm flat in summer, an older dog with slower kidney function, they're not just losing water. They're losing electrolytes through panting, sweating through their paws, and basic metabolic processes. So, you keep the clean water, and once a day, you enhance it. That's the shift in thinking.
What does adding electrolytes to a monthly routine actually change?
Tanya: Think about how normalised electrolytes are for humans: sports drinks, hydration tablets, mineral water. We don't think twice about reaching for them throughout the day, after a workout or on a hot day. Our bodies need those minerals to function, and we've accepted that. Dogs are no different. The muscle function and nerve signalling that potassium and magnesium support affect everything from how well a puppy learns to how comfortably a senior dog moves. Every dog benefits, active dogs, older dogs, dogs on dry food diets. Hydration is foundational, just as it is for us. Electrolytes are just a faster way to do so.
Nathalie: The changes you see aren't dramatic or overnight and that's actually the point. Many owners report improvements in areas such as energy, coat, condition and digestive wellbeing when hydration becomes a consistent focus. What you're witnessing is the result of a body finally absorbing, regularly and consistently, what it actually needs. The cells are getting what they've been missing. That's not a quick fix. It's the quiet, cumulative effect of proper nourishment. And once you understand that it comes down to absorption, it opens up a whole other conversation about how we deliver those nutrients in the first place.
Actually, let's talk about format. You're both advocates for soluble supplements. Why?
Tanya: As Nathalie said, absorption is everything. A supplement that sits in the gut and doesn't make it into the bloodstream isn't doing much. The soluble format, whether powder or liquid, that dissolves into water, means nutrients are readily available for absorption throughout the digestive tract. Bioavailability is enhanced compared with harder formats such as traditional chews or tablets, which first need to be broken down before nutrients can be released and often lose potency in that process.
Nathalie: There's also a behavioural simplicity to it. You're not wrestling a dog to take a pill. You're not hoping they chew something properly. You add it to water, stir, done. The compliance rate is much higher because there's no friction, and consistent supplementation is what actually moves the needle.
Tanya: The other thing I'd highlight is that soluble supplements allow for precise dosing. You control exactly how much goes in. With chews, you're limited to fixed doses that may not suit every size or life stage. With a soluble formula, you can adjust to your dog's weight, activity level, and the season.
Any final thoughts for pet parents who've never thought about hydration before?
Nathalie: Hydration is not about thirst, and this is an error we make for ourselves too. We think we should drink when we feel thirsty, but by that point, we're already behind. Thirst is a late signal, not an early one. It's exactly the same for dogs. We shouldn't be waiting for them to signal that they're thirsty, because often, they won't. Monitoring their water intake matters. And if you can upgrade it once a day with electrolytes, vitamins, and other good stuff, even better. That's not a big ask. That's just a better baseline.
Tanya: I'd say: don't let it feel complicated. Hydration is not a niche topic for performance athletes or sick animals. It's the foundation. Good food, good movement, good mental stimulation, they all work better when the body is properly hydrated. If you can add one thing to your pet's routine this month, make it this.
Nathalie is the founder of Pawer Water, a pet hydration wellness company focused on making functional hydration accessible for every dog and soon every cat. Tanya is Pawer Water Head Canine Nutritionist with over a decade of experience in animal and human health and nutrition. If you're concerned about your pet's hydration or overall health, speak to your vet.