<
https://theconversation.com/why-its-not-safe-for-dogs-to-drink-from-communal-water-bowls-253550>
"On a bright, sunny day, after a nice walk with your dog, you stop at a local
cafe to grab a drink. At the counter, you spot a water bowl for your dog. But
before letting your dog take a sip, consider this: shared water bowls can be a
breeding ground for harmful bugs that could make your dog sick.
Water is essential for dogs’ health, supporting normal body functions and
regulating temperature. During warmer weather or after exercise, it’s
especially important to ensure your dog stays hydrated.
This is because dogs are limited in their ability to cool down by sweating in
the same way as we can. Instead, they rely on panting to regulate their body
temperature, and water is essential to support this.
Water is usually offered to dogs in bowls, although dogs eating high-moisture
food such as raw meat or tinned food will drink less than dogs eating dry dog
food. Keeping food and water bowls clean is essential, and they should be
regularly washed (at least daily) using hot water or in a dishwasher. This is
important to protect dog and human health as antibiotic-resistant
Escherichia
coli has been found in dog feeding bowls, suggesting a potential route of
transmission.
Where dogs might share bowls for food or water, there is also the risk of
dangerous bacteria such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
spreading between dogs and their owners. This bug is responsible for skin and
soft-tissue infections and can be difficult to control with standard
antibiotics.
Dogs might also accidentally share other infections via water bowls.
Respiratory infections with a bacterial or viral origin can easily be shared
when water or bowls become contaminated with saliva or nasal secretions. The
dreaded kennel cough – characterised by a distressing, dry, hacking cough –
spreads quickly when dogs are in close contact. Contaminated objects, including
toys, bedding and water bowls, are likely to be heavily involved in its
transmission.
One difficultly is that several different bugs can be responsible for kennel
cough, such as
Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine influenza virus. The
range of possible causative agents makes control, diagnosis and treatment of
kennel cough tricky.
Water bowls can also be a source of disease-causing adenoviruses that originate
from faecal contamination of surfaces and objects. These viruses can be
responsible for hepatitis and respiratory infections, making them a real threat
to your dog’s health."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
