If you walk your dog in the scorching summer heat, you may want to think twice about giving him public water sources to drink, that’s the latest warning from veterinarians.

It may be tempting to let your furry friend drink from the various water sources he finds along the way, such as puddles, fountains, or even streams.

However, it is important to understand that these shared public water sources can pose significant risks to your dog’s health.

Contaminated water may contain harmful bacteria, parasites or chemicals that can cause gastrointestinal problems or more serious illnesses.

Lori Teller, clinical professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, has identified the main risks dogs face when drinking water outside of their home.

Importance of hydration in dogs

It is very important that your dog stays hydrated to be healthy and happy. Just like humans, water is essential for most of your dog’s bodily functions, such as digestion and temperature regulation. A well-hydrated puppy is likely to have more energy, a healthy appetite, and be more resistant to illness.

On average, your dog needs about an ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. This can vary depending on activity, diet and weather.

When you’re out and about in hot weather, it’s very important to keep a close eye on your furry friend for signs of dehydration, including dry gums, lethargy, sunken eyes, and less elastic skin, to maintain your pet’s health.

Quality of public water sources

Teller recommends that dog owners check the quality of public water sources before allowing their pets to drink from them, because a well-intentioned gesture from a neighbor or local business owner may actually contain various contaminants.

“This is especially a problem if the bowl is not cleaned regularly or the water is left standing for long periods of time,” says Teller.

“Stagnant water can retain environmental contaminants such as plant matter, parasites, toxins, mold, and more. Dogs that have stepped in feces and then played in the bowl can leave parasites and bacteria in the water.”

Health risks for dogs drinking public water

According to them, there are many possible diseases that can be transmitted through public water bowls, including:

• Kennel cough: a respiratory infection that causes a choking cough, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing;
• Canine papilloma: a virus transmitted through saliva that causes warts in and around the mouth;
• Salmonella: an infection that causes vomiting, fever and bloody diarrhea;
• Giardia: a parasite that causes vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss;
• E. coli: a bacterium that causes loss of appetite, diarrhea and dehydration; and
• Leptospirosis: a bacterial infection often transmitted through the urine of rodents that causes kidney or liver disease.

Awareness of these risks is essential to protecting dogs, especially when owners think about their pets’ water needs before leaving the house.

“Ideally, owners will have a collapsible, portable bowl and some fresh water to give their dog,” advises Teller.

“Alternatively, they could stop at a restaurant or supermarket and ask for a glass of water for their dog.”

Use your best judgment

Although there are always potential risks associated with public water sources, there are certain situations where those risks are worth taking.

“If your dog is hot and thirsty and at risk of dehydration, that may be more important than avoiding water in the bowl,” Teller said.

Excessive panting can be a sign of dehydration, especially if it continues after the dog has cooled down. In addition, your dog’s nose and gums can become dry and sticky due to dehydration.

Several pets share the food bowl

In addition to the safety concerns associated with public water bowls, Teller recommends that owners consider the risks that arise when multiple pets in the same household share the same food bowl.

“Often dogs need different portions of food, and in many cases a dog may need to change his diet due to illness. This can be much more difficult to manage if the dogs are sharing a bowl,” Teller said. “Or one dog is preventing another from eating from the bowl.”

However, she makes it clear that using the same water bowl in a multi-pet household does not pose the same problems as sharing food bowls.

“In most cases, dogs living in the same home are exposed to similar infectious agents, so sharing a water bowl will not have much of an impact on that,” she said. “It is still important that water bowls (and food bowls) are washed regularly with soap and hot water.”

Whether a public water bowl is safe for your thirsty dog ​​must be decided on a case-by-case basis. Teller stresses that your best bet is to discourage your dog from drinking water that looks like pond water.

When in doubt, it is always better to be safe than sorry, as risking the health of your beloved pet is not worth it.

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