A water safety expert claims tap water in some parts of the UK could be poisoning your pets. Gene Fitzgerald, home water treatment expert at BOS, said that while UK water is generally safe for human consumption, you may need to find an alternative solution for cats and dogs.
She told The Mirror : "The UK is known for having some of the best tap water in the world. But that doesn't mean that it is free from problems and if you live in an area with certain tap water, there's a good chance that you might be poisoning your pets."
She added: "In most places, tap water is perfectly fine for humans and animals to drink. But if you live in a hard water area, it may be making your pets ill.
"Hard water contains high levels of calcium and/or magnesium. For pets, this can be harmful.
"If a dog drinks too much hard water for too long a period, for example, they can develop conditions such as urinary tract and/or bladder infections, cystitis, urinary obstruction, crystalluria and stone formation. Hard water can also cause skin irritation and dryness, digestive problems, and dental issues in pets which can be dangerous for them and costly for you."
You should also avoid water softeners that contain sodium. Gene added: "Reverse osmosis and distillation softeners are great solutions. Removing the harmful substances from hard water, they can help to keep your pet healthy and also improve the health of your plants and the lifespan of your appliances."
Water Treatment specialists at Kinetico said: "In general, these pets can drink the same water as us; however, it is worth noting that the high mineral content in hard water is not advisable for them to consume.
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"This is even more vital if your small pet has a pre-existing condition such as kidney or bladder conditions."
The best thing to provide these types of pets is filtered tap water. If you're worried, you can contact your water company to receive an assessment of your water quality, or speak to a vet.
