Can Dogs Get Sick from the Rain?
Depending on where you live, yes, it is possible for your dog to get sick from the rain. The water that gathers into puddles on the ground can contain a variety of biological and chemical hazards that can be harmful and even kill your dog.
Does My Dog Have Rainwater Poisoning?
While you may think this sounds a bit odd, your dog could end up being exposed to Leptospira bacteria, Giardia, and even antifreeze in those fun-to-splash-in puddles. Both Leptospira and Giardia come from animal waste, the first from urine and the second from feces. All three contaminants cause similar symptoms, including:
Leptospirosis and antifreeze can also cause kidney failure, and ingesting antifreeze can lead to seizures and coma.
The most common causes of rainwater poisoning are other animals–or at least the urine and feces of other animals–as the bacteria responsible for Leptospirosis and the Giardia protozoa live in these waste products. Rainwater helps to disperse them over a larger area and collect in puddles. When your dog drinks the water or licks themselves clean after your walk, they can ingest them, at which point they get to do their job of making your dog ill.
With antifreeze, it only takes a minute amount of the highly toxic chemical ethylene glycol to have a devastating effect on your dogs health.
If your dog begins to act sick shortly after a walk through the rain puddles, take them to see the vet a soon as possible. The vet will perform a series of blood, urine, and stool sample tests to diagnose the condition. It is important that you realize many dogs who ingest antifreeze dont survive even after receiving aggressive treatment.
Lakes, swamps, bogs and ponds are frequently home to all the bugs that live in puddles, but they also contain potentially toxic algae. This goes for basically any color of algae. Don’t let your pet drink from any water that contains blue, green, red, brown or purple algae.
Do your best to discourage your pet from drinking from puddles. If they drink puddle water and later experience vomiting or diarrhea, it’s time to see the vet. Again, make sure your cat or dog is current on their vaccinations!
You also need to be wary of ponds treated with heavy metals, such as copper sulfate. These chemicals are used to prevent algae overgrowth and can irritate a pet’s skin. If your animal swims in this water, rinse them off immediately and contact your vet.
You shouldn’t let your pets drink this water, as it could be fatal. If you see any kind of floating green pond scum that resembles pea soup, you shouldn’t let them swim in the water either. Pets that swim in this water should be fished out immediately and thoroughly rinsed off. If you notice any changes in your pet’s health, call your vet ASAP.
Rain is clean water so it’s safe to drink, right? Wrong. Or at least you need to be careful about galvanized rain buckets. Galvanized containers are coated in zinc, which is toxic to cats and dogs in high concentrations. So if you’re giving your pet water, opt for a ceramic, steel or glass bowl.
Toxins in your dog’s drinking water
Often times when you find yourself out adventuring with your furry friend they may stop for a drink of water out of a nearby puddle or pond. If this is something you let your dog does, it’s a habit you need to break immediately. Drinking from standing water can cause Leptospirosis disease. To help you protect your dog and stay safe, we’ve gathered the necessary information and tips on how to protect your furry friend from Lepto.