Looking Beyond Electrolytes: A Simpler Approach to Summer Hydration
By Dr. Keith Weingardt, DVM
Why hydration, not electrolyte supplements, is the everyday priority for most healthy pets, and how bone broth and raw goat milk make it easy to add more moisture to their diet.
When temperatures climb, many pet owners start looking for ways to help their dogs and cats stay healthy in the heat.
Many pet owners reach for electrolyte powders because that's what we use ourselves after a long hike, an intense workout, or a hot day in the sun. But pets don't lose water the same way we do. In fact, for most healthy dogs and cats, electrolytes aren't the missing piece. What they need is hydration.
That's an important difference, and when we focus on getting more moisture into the diet, we're supporting the body's natural ability to stay balanced and hydrated.
What Are Electrolytes and What Do They Do
Electrolytes are minerals like sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium that help regulate fluid balance, support nerve function, and allow muscles, including the heart, to work properly.
When a pet loses significant amounts of fluid, electrolyte replacement becomes an important part of recovery. But most healthy pets at home aren't walking around with an electrolyte deficiency. If they're eating a balanced diet and their kidneys are functioning normally, they're remarkably good at maintaining those mineral levels on their own.
That's why I rarely recommend electrolyte supplements as part of a healthy pet's everyday routine. For most healthy dogs and cats, supporting hydration is the more meaningful place to start.
The Real Summer Challenge
What I see much more often is simple underhydration.
Hydration and electrolyte balance work together, but they aren't the same thing. A pet can have perfectly normal electrolyte levels and still not be taking in enough water.
Cats are naturally light drinkers, and dogs eating mostly dry food can face similar challenges. When there isn't much moisture in the diet to begin with, staying well hydrated becomes even more important.
Add summer heat, travel, exercise, or being a picky drinking pet, and that hydration gap can grow even larger.
Hydration Starts in the Bowl
We often think of hydration as simply drinking more water, but another effective way to support it is by adding moisture directly to your pet's meals.
This is where whole food ingredients like Green Juju Bone Broths and Raw Goat's Milk really shine.
Our Bone Broth is naturally rich in moisture, along with beneficial amino acids and minerals.. Pouring a little over your pet's food or offering it as a refreshing treat is an easy way to increase daily fluid intake without changing much else about their routine.
Raw Goat's Milk offers many of the same hydration benefits while also providing naturally occurring probiotics and digestive enzymes. Since most dogs and cats happily lap it up, it's an easy way to add more moisture to the diet without much effort.
Rather than trying to correct hydration after the fact with a powder or tablet, building moisture into the diet every day through whole foods works with your pet's natural physiology, instead of trying to outsmart it.
When Adding Electrolytes Makes Sense
That doesn't mean electrolyte support never has a role. Pets recovering from dehydration, working dogs spending long hours in the summer heat, or those with certain medical conditions may genuinely benefit from more targeted support.
Those situations are different and are best managed with your veterinarian's guidance.
Keep It Simple
For most healthy dogs and cats, staying well hydrated is less about supplementing electrolytes and more about adding moisture throughout the day.
Fresh water will always be essential, but hydration doesn't have to come from the water bowl alone. Green Juju Bone Broth and Raw Goat’s Milk are simple, whole-food ways to boost moisture while giving your pet a refreshing summer treat.
When we focus on hydration first, the body is often able to maintain balance naturally, just as it was designed to do.
