Veterinarians Issue Eye-Opening Warning About the Danger of Public Dog Water Bowls

Most pet parents probably wouldn't think twice about letting their dogs drink from a public water bowl at a dog park or on a restaurant patio. Obviously, it's not ideal compared to drinking at home, just as most of us wouldn't prefer drinking from a public water fountain. Still, better to let your pup take a sip than go thirsty, right?

Well, you may actually want to think twice about using that public water bowl the next time you and your dog are out on the town. Veterinarians are speaking out about the health risks of letting dogs drink from public water bowls, and it's a warning that pet parents need to hear.

"There are several infectious or communicable diseases that dogs can get when they drink out of communal water bowls," Dr. Lori Teller, a professor of veterinary medicine at Texas A&M, warned Boston 25 News. These may include deadly bacteria like salmonella, leptospirosis, and bordetella (which can cause kennel cough), as well as a host of other viruses, molds, and parasites that can inhabit these bowls, particularly in stagnant water or in bowls that are not cleaned regularly.

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Sadly, Boston mom Tiara Mike is all too familiar with the dangers of these communal dog bowls. Her dog passed away from an illness after a visit to the dog park last year, a death that her vets reportedly attributed to "eating or drinking after other dogs."

"They're not the cleanest, they're really not," Mike said of the park's public water bowls. "And they just kind of, you know, they throw them to the side, or there's mud."

Despite her sobering public health warning, Dr. Teller did note that there are times when the benefits of using these public water bowls outweigh the potential risks.

"If your dog gets really hot, and your dog is suffering or in danger of becoming overheated, then the risk of drinking out of the water bowl is going to become a lot less than the risk of your dog getting heat stroke or heat exhaustion or severe dehydration,” Dr. Teller advised.

A Safe Alternative to Public Water Bowls

If a public water bowl is your dog's only hydration option on a hot summer's day, letting them drink from it may be the lesser of two evils. But for pet parents, there doesn't have to be a binary choice between risking heat stroke and risking infectious diseases if they plan ahead.

"Ideally, owners would carry a collapsible, portable bowl and some fresh water with them to give to their dog," Dr. Teller told Newsweek. "Alternatively, they could stop at a restaurant or convenience store and request a cup of water."

These collapsible silicon dog bowls are sold by a variety of popular pet supply brands. They're generally cheap, lightweight, come in a variety of sizes for both small and large dog breeds, and many of them include caribiners, cases, or lids for easy, clean storage, so you can throw them in your bag or even clip them to your belt loop without making a mess. Keeping one of these bowls on hand is an easy way to ensure your pet dog stays safe, healthy, and well-hydrated no matter where you go!

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