Water: the essential nutrient with food

Pet owners may not be aware of the full water needs of their animals, or how to meet them.

George Collings, Ph.D.
August 7, 2026
Water The Essential Nutrient With Food
NickyLloyd | iStock.com
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All living things depend upon water for life. Water makes up 84% of the weight of a newborn puppy and 60% to 70% of an adult dog or cat. With limited access to water, an animal can quickly become dehydrated and health is impacted. In nutrition and biology, the "most limiting" nutrient is the essential dietary component present in the lowest supply compared to the demand of the body. This comes from Liebig's law of the minimum. The principle states that optimal growth and performance in biological systems are limited by the least-available essential input. As necessary as water is, it should never be limited but it often is.

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