I just read an article in Backpacker Magazine that said that dogs are just
as likely to get sick from drinking untreated water as people, so you should
prevent them from drinking from ponds or creeks.

Is there much truth to that?
My dog pretty much lives in the water, be it creeks, canals, ponds,
lakes..., and stopping her from drinking is a fools errand. So, what to do?

"Wade Lippman" wrote in message
...
I just read an article in Backpacker Magazine that said that dogs are just
as likely to get sick from drinking untreated water as people, so you
should prevent them from drinking from ponds or creeks.

Is there much truth to that?
My dog pretty much lives in the water, be it creeks, canals, ponds,
lakes..., and stopping her from drinking is a fools errand. So, what to
do?


Coccidia and giardi are two parasites that live in water and can cause
disease in dogs. I'm sure there are more, but those two come to mind right
now. My Cavalier, Kiba, came from the breeder with a coccidia infection,
which he got from his mother. The bitch wasn't sick, but since puppies'
immune systems aren't strong, Kiba became quite ill. Since I've had a dog
with a water-induced infection, and didn't like it, I would be leery about
letting Kiba drink water I didn't give to him. He drinks the same filtered,
bottled water that we drink at home.

You could check with your local authority and find out if there is there is
any reported parasites or other concerns in your local creeks and streams.
--
Phyrie
Kiba the Cav's Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phyrie/...758930/detail/

In article ,
Wade Lippman wrote:
Is there much truth to that?

Yeah - stuff like parasitic amoebas, giardia, and crypto,
although the risks will vary by location. I carry bottled
water for my dogs (and me) when I hike, and a decent water
filter can mitigate the risks, as well. I'd ask the local
hiking club or whatnot about what's in the water where you
are.
--
Melinda Shore - Software longa, hardware brevis -

Prouder than ever to be a member of the reality-based community

"Phyrie" wrote in message
...

Coccidia and giardi

Oops, "giardia" is the correct spelling.

Wade Lippman wrote:
I just read an article in Backpacker Magazine that said that dogs are
just as likely to get sick from drinking untreated water as people, so
you should prevent them from drinking from ponds or creeks.

Is there much truth to that?
My dog pretty much lives in the water, be it creeks, canals, ponds,
lakes..., and stopping her from drinking is a fools errand. So, what to
do?

Depends on your location but yeah, they can. I stopped going to my very
favorite off leash area because I couldn't keep the dogs out of the
creek when it was hot. Unfortunately the creek not only has giardia, but
also is polluted with heavy metals and other yucky stuff. Our city gives
lip service to clean waterways but in reality contractors and developers
and big business get to do whatever they want.

Coccidia and giardi are two parasites that live in water and can cause
disease in dogs. I'm sure there are more, but those two come to mind
right now.

We removed a guinea worm from a dog's leg (yes, sent it to Cornell to make
sure) last month. Report back from lab indicates that they get this from
drinking water contaminated with, most likely, racoon feces ie: ponds,
swamps, creeks, puddles. And this was in upstate NY.

"Wade Lippman" said in
rec.pets.dogs.health:
I just read an article in Backpacker Magazine that said
that dogs are just as likely to get sick from drinking
untreated water as people, so you should prevent them from
drinking from ponds or creeks.

Is there much truth to that?
My dog pretty much lives in the water, be it creeks,
canals, ponds, lakes..., and stopping her from drinking is
a fools errand. So, what to do?

My dogs also live to swim.

Don't let your dogs into pools/small lakes which don't have flow
(there's a reason Gardia is often called Beaver Fever). I've
never been concerned sending my dogs into the rivers here.

--
--Matt. Rocky's a Dog.

"Sharon Too" wrote in message
. ..
Coccidia and giardi are two parasites that live in water and can cause
disease in dogs. I'm sure there are more, but those two come to mind
right now.

We removed a guinea worm from a dog's leg (yes, sent it to Cornell to make
sure) last month. Report back from lab indicates that they get this from
drinking water contaminated with, most likely, racoon feces ie: ponds,
swamps, creeks, puddles. And this was in upstate NY.

Ack! I live in the Pacific Northwest. Coastal BC Canada, to be more
precise, and we have one helluva lot of 'coons here. We have them come
right to the porch and poke their noses in the door, looking for goodies.
--
Phyrie
Kiba the Cav's Pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phyrie/...758930/detail/

Ack! I live in the Pacific Northwest. Coastal BC Canada, to be more
precise, and we have one helluva lot of 'coons here. We have them come
right to the porch and poke their noses in the door, looking for goodies.

Raccoons are bad news for baylisascaris parasites. They bathroom on
horizontal surfaces and use a common spot for a while. There was a case at a
day care center in California where they were going on the roof. A sudden
downpour caused the feces to go to the play surface below where the eggs
developed and hatched in the soil. A toddler was infected and died. They had
to remove a foot of surface and pave. Another case where a toddler had a
habit of licking firweood brought into the house. Guess where the racoons
were pooing. That toddler is now brain damaged and will never function past
infant stage. Nothing like seeing pics of autopsy labs and films to
understand the gravity. It scares me mostly when there are small children in
the home. Cover sand boxes, wash hands. Don't let them put things in their
mouths outside. Strategically deworm household pets who go outside.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol8no4/01-0273.htm

"Wade Lippman" wrote in message
...
I just read an article in Backpacker Magazine that said that dogs are just
as likely to get sick from drinking untreated water as people, so you
should prevent them from drinking from ponds or creeks.

Is there much truth to that?
My dog pretty much lives in the water, be it creeks, canals, ponds,
lakes..., and stopping her from drinking is a fools errand. So, what to
do?

I take a relatively simple approach to my pets diet. Basically I won't give
them anything to eat or drink that I wouldn't put in my own mouth. If I go
for a walk or run with my dog I share a water bottle with her, she doesn't
seem to be worried about getting germs off me so it's all good.
The food I prepare or purchase for them should be nutritious and something
I'm not scared to eat.
You will never get a dog to avoid taste testing everything they encounter
especially as a puppy so all you can do is make sure they have abundant
fresh water every day. I had a Keeshond who had never consumed any water
other than filtered water and she refused to drink unfiltered tap water or
any other. Training by accident I guess lol.