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An Animal 's Body Water

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Every dog and cat, no matter their age, has certain nutrients that are necessary to ensure they live a healthy life. It is important for pet owners to be aware of these requirements, so they can be sure the food they choose to feed their animal meets these demands. The six essential nutrients that every animal needs for their body to function include the following: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. The most important of these nutrients is water. Without adequate water an animal will quickly die, and “a loss of only 10% of an animal’s body water can result in death” (Case, Daristotle, Hayek, Raasch, 2011, 9). Water has several different important functions that it plays a role in. For example, water helps an animal’s body with digestion and absorption. In addition, water helps an animal’s body with temperature regulation and the elimination of waste products (Nutritional Requirements and Related Diseases of Small Animals n.d.). When considering how much water an animal will need there are several factors an owner will need to consider. For instance, if an animal’s health status and the type of food they eat can contribute to how much water they will need each day. According to the merckvetmanual, a good guideline for owners to follow is to give an animal around 55ml of water for each kg of body weight. (Nutritional Requirements and Related Diseases of Small Animals n.d.). Another essential nutrient for dogs and cats is vitamins. There are many

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