Bulldogs World

Hi Harold,

On my house (I believe on most) the kitchen sink cold water and outdoor spickets are the only one's that do not use the softner. Yes, the softner will increase the odds of having a water baby.
I use a Brita to filter all the dog's water. I have not had any water babies from this. During the last week of pregnacy I also give my bitch a water pill daily.
If your frig has a filter system, it would probably be OK also.

Faye Richardson

http://www.EmpireBulldog.com

so its rain water, never had any water puppies.

What is a water softner?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_softener

1) We have a water softener that uses the iron-out pellets (our well water is very iron-laden) along with 2 inline filters.
2) We also have an RO system installed for drinking water for us and the dogs. The RO system takes out the salts and other chemicals the water picks up from the softening process.
I raised only 1 litter prior to the RO system being installed, and about 7 litters since. There has been only 1 litter with any water on the pups, and they had very little. Let me note that I farmed out that litter for someone else to raise. The bitch went to the person's home about 7-10 days prior to delivery and there was a softener system, but no RO system at that house. I don't think it was merely coincidence that that litter had water pups....
A close friend had a system similar to ours installed a few years ago and her incidence of water pups has dropped dramatically, as have the number of UTI's her dogs get.
Even if the RO system had no positive effect on the dogs ( I believe it does benefit them and us too) I would have another installed just because the water and everything the water goes into (coffee, juices, steamed veggies, soups, etc.) tastes SO MUCH BETTER!

tonssssssssss of salt added, I've had 6 litters in this home and have never had a water puppy!! my dogs do drink allot though, and I have no issue's with tear staining and never clean face folds, I've had this discussion with my friend who is a chemist.

Water softeners are on the hot water ONLY. There purpose is so less soap is used in bathing, washing dishes and clothing. If you use cold water when suppling drinking water to your bulldogs, then there is not salt added.

the lady who owned our home before was very ill with liver failure, it was a very expensive unit, all of our water is filtered!!!

we have never had water softeners and we have had water puppies.

We had one added mainly for the grandbaby. I always give bottled water(baby kind you buy at Walmart) it is sodium free. In 8 years of litters not one water puppy...however, I also feed a raw diet during the pregnancy. I have also raised over 5 litters for a friend who was having water puppies every litter..once I told them about the raw.. they haven't had one water puppy either. I also give a prenatel tablet. I just saw on another web site where other breeds who have had water puppies and they have claimed it is due to lack of iron. Anyone heard of this. I know the prenatel tablet I give has iron and I also know the raw diet has iron(liver and heart organs) and I also feed tripe(stomach. anyway, makes me wonder if it is the water or lack of iron?

Linda