A veterinary professor has warned dog owners of the dangers of letting their pets share public water bowls.
Allowing your dog to drink from a communal bowl while you’re out and about could expose him to a litany of illnesses, advised Texas A&M professor Lori Teller.
These public water bowls can be a breeding ground for germs, exposing your dog to microbes ranging from salmonella to leptospirosis, especially if the water has been sitting stagnant for a while.
ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
“This is especially concerning if the bowl is not cleaned regularly or if the water remains stagnant for long periods of time,” Teller said in a statement. “Stagnant water can hold environmental contaminants, such as plant matter, parasites, toxins, mold, etc. Dogs who have stepped in feces and then played in the bowl can leave parasites and bacteria in the water.”
Some of the diseases that can be transmitted from one dog to another through a shared water bowl include kennel cough, canine papillomavirus, giardia, E. coli, as well as salmonella and leptospirosis.
Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease in dogs, often caused by a combination of viruses and bacteria. The most common culprits include: Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria and canine parainfluenza virus. Symptoms include a persistent dry cough, nausea or retching, runny nose and sneezing, and fever in severe cases.
Canine papillomavirus causes warts, benign growths usually found on the lips, inside the mouth or around the eyes. They are usually not painful unless they are infected or inflamed.
Salmonella and E. coli are bacterial infections that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration, while giardia is a protozoan parasite that infects the intestines of dogs, causing similar symptoms.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira, often transmitted through contact with the urine of infected animals such as rodents, and can lead to kidney damage.
Teller advises dog owners to use their best judgment about the quality of water in a public bowl and, if possible, to bring their own drinking water for their dogs in hot weather.
“Ideally, owners should carry a collapsible, portable bowl and some fresh water to give their dog,” Teller said. “They could also stop at a restaurant or convenience store and ask for a glass of water.”
ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
However, she notes that if your dog is clearly dehydrated and really needs to drink, letting him drink from a public bowl is worth the risk.
While there is always potential risk in publicly accessible water bowls, Teller believes there are certain situations where those risks are worth taking.
“If your dog is hot, thirsty and at risk of dehydration, that may take priority over avoiding water in the bowl,” Teller said.
Sharing water bowls among dogs in the same household is generally acceptable, Teller notes.
“In most cases, dogs living in the same household will be exposed to similar infectious agents, so sharing a water bowl will not have a huge impact on this,” Teller said. “It is still important that water (and food) bowls are washed regularly with soap and warm water.”
However, in some cases it may be better for some dogs to have separate food and water bowls.
“Often, dogs need different portions of food, and in many cases, one dog may need a change in diet due to a medical issue. This can be much more difficult to manage if dogs share a bowl,” Teller said. “Or, one dog may prevent another from eating from their bowl.”
Do you have any idea about a scientific story that Newsweek should be covered? Have a question about canine diseases? Let us know at science@newsweek.com.
