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Water is the most critical nutrient to have consistently available since it makes up 60-70% of the total body weight. An animal can survive after losing almost all of its energy reserves and half of its protein, but a 10% loss of total body water causes serious illness. A 15% water loss can result in death. All pets should have access to clean and fresh water at all times.
Water has two unique properties which make it critical for the normal functions of a cell. First, water is an excellent solvent and most proteins, and carbohydrates are readily soluble in water. Even fats, when combined with other molecules, are soluble in water. This enables the body to transport nutrients to each cell and then transport waste products from the cells and out of the body. Another often overlooked property of water is its ability to absorb large quantities of heat. Heat is generated within a cell as it metabolizes food. Water helps to absorb the excess heat and slowly distribute it throughout the body where it is eventually lost. Without water, these reactions would damage the cell.
Animals have two basic sources of water: metabolic and ingested. Metabolic water results from the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, or proteins. Ingested water is obtained by drinking or eating foods containing water. The water content in different forms of pet food varies, with dry containing 10-12% water, semi-moist 22-40% and canned 70-82%. When the amount of water consumed in food is increased, the amount the animal drinks decreases.
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