Is Alkaline Water Good for Dogs? Answered by Pet Parents

Is alkaline water good for dogs? This question is a tricky one and has more than one answer depending on which way you look at it.

I researched the topic extensively and summoned my existing alkaline water knowledge to put together this helpful guide for pet parents.

In this article, you’ll hear both sides of the argument, read & watch testimonials by dog parents who give their dogs alkaline water, read scientific reasons, and get my two cents.

By the end, it’ll be up to you to decide if alkaline water is right for your dog.

First, let me give you the best answer to the question since that’s why you’re here.

Is alkaline water good for dogs?

I have read only positive reports written by dog parents and leading dog websites.

The only negative report I saw is on the Mercola website. The article reports kidney stones affecting dogs and cats drinking alkaline water.

There’s evidence to back up this report because one study found that mother rats drinking alkaline water caused the babies to absorb too much calcium.

The problems I have with concluding that alkaline water is bad for your pets are: the singular negative report has no clear scientific evidence to back it up, and the article provides no definite link between the stones and alkaline water.

I want to know what type of alkaline water these dogs were drinking? What was the pH of the water that caused these stones?

Here’s the problem: Water with too high of a pH is bad for everyone, including dogs, especially since dogs should have a urine pH of 6 to 6.5.

Once the pH of dog urine raises too much or goes too low, they can get different types of crystals in their urine.

It seems to me that the Mercola article may have used this information as a crutch to convince people that alkaline water is bad for dogs.

If one thing is for sure, it’s nearly impossible to find a definitive answer.

An Interesting Scientific Study

In the one study I could find, there’s evidence showing that alkaline ionized water is helpful in the treatment of metabolic acidosis resulting from renal failure in dogs.

While this scientific study doesn’t completely clear up the grey area revolving around the question at hand, it does tell me that there’s little chance of alkaline ionized water being harmful to dogs.

Testimonials by Pet Parents

First, let’s remember that dogs have instincts:

Through my research and the many reviews that I’ve written for alkaline water products, I’ve read numerous testimonials written by verified owners of water ionizers.

I have yet to see one negative review written by a cat or dog parent.

The most common report I’ve seen is that cats and dogs love alkaline ionized water.

I’ve read several reports saying dogs and cats refuse to drink tap water after trying alkaline ionized water (just like in the video above).

I think the bottom line is: As a good friend of mine once said, “It’s just water.”

If you take a step back from the situation for a second and look at it from afar, like me, you may ask yourself, How could water that makes me feel great harm my dog?

Here’s another inspiring testimonial by a man who gave his dog alkaline water after the poor guy was hit by a car:

Now that I’ve given you some food for thought, let’s check out the benefits of alkaline water for dogs.

Alkaline Water Benefits for Dogs

Here are the three most reported alkaline water benefits for dogs:

Aside from alkaline water benefits for dogs, you can also use acidic water from your water ionizer (pH 4 – 6) to groom your pet. Acidic water does a great job of giving dogs a shinier, softer coat.

Humans can use the same water to clear up acne problems and bring out the shine in their hair by rinsing hair with acidic water after shampooing.

Alkaline Water Precautions for Dogs

There are several precautions you should be aware of before giving your dog alkaline water:

My Assessment

Is alkaline water good for dogs? Personally, I think it is.

I tend to believe in something when I’ve read enough positive reports written by real people and seen enough scientific evidence to back up my conclusion.

Even on the Mercola site (that was the lone negative report about alkaline water benefits for dogs I came across), the article recommends giving dogs water with molecular hydrogen.

Life Ionizers, Tyent, AlkaViva, and Enagic ionizers all boost the level of molecular hydrogen in the ionized water their machines produce.

I’m having trouble believing that ionized water from a trustworthy ionizer can harm a dog’s health.

I am, however, unsure about the benefits of filtered water from alkaline water pitchers. Here’s why:

I love dogs and have had family dogs my entire life. That’s why providing accurate information in this guide is so important to me.

The video above of the dog choosing alkaline water over tap water is enough proof for me to trust in a dog’s instincts.

Remember, dogs have an incredible sense of smell. Imagine how pungent the chlorine scent in tap water must be for them compared to our nostrils.

And one final point I’d like to make is that the filters in leading water ionizers do an outstanding job of removing water contaminants.

Read through my reviews for AlkaViva ionizers to see the lengths the company went to remove 172 known water contaminants by up to 99.9% for almost all tested contaminants.

Life Ionizers also posted its lab results showing contaminants reaching undetectable levels after passing through Life filters.

I like the idea of giving my dogs ultra-purified water with a natural pH that’s full of antioxidants including molecular hydrogen. Do you agree?

Final Thoughts

I think by now the question “Is alkaline water good for dogs?” has been answered…for the most part 🙂

The question is too complex for a simple answer, and there are too many variables in play.

Key takeaways:

Best of luck with your furry friends!