And what about the toxins on your doorstep? A tale for all seasons.
Even that harmless-looking puddles around your home could be life-threatening. Ethylene glycol is a commonly used ingredient in antifreeze products used in cars. It can easily leak from parked vehicles to contaminate puddle water. It’s highly toxic to dogs and cats, and only a small amount needs to be ingested to be fatal as it causes kidney failure. It has a sweet smell which means it is readily licked by dogs. Every year, sadly, several dogs (and even more cats) die in the UK after ingestion of ethylene glycol. As an antifreeze product, this risk is higher during the winter months.
Then there is the danger of blue-green algae blooms caused by cyanobacteria. This natural phenomenon occurs most commonly during the summer months when the perfect conditions for explosive algal growth are most likely. The toxins produced by these blooms are dangerous to humans and dogs when ingested. Blue-green algae can often be visible by a blue-green foamy scum on the water’s surface. The local authority will put up prominent warning signs at times of high risk. It is imperative to keep your dog on the lead and out of the water when these signs are up. If your dog does somehow get into the water, it is recommended to take them directly to the vet for decontamination as toxic signs (tummy upset, tremors, wobbly gait, seizures) can start within an hour of exposure.
As with all issues environmental, the concern about environmental pollution is increasingly coming to the fore. Pesticides, herbicides to pharmaceutical residues and hormones, from agricultural, industrial and domestic use affect wildlife and the environment, and our understanding of how this happens is improving all the time. With that comes the realization that there is also a knock-on risk to our health and our pets. Yet still, the environmental levels of surprisingly few of these polluting substances are monitored. So exactly what, if anything, and how much of it ends up in your average puddle is unknown and, for this reason, drinking from puddles is generally not recommended.
The bugs that lurk (in the puddle)
Surely the worst that can happen from picking a bug up from a puddle is an upset tummy? Well, possibly. But given the most likely cause of this upset tummy is Giardia, and it is one of the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Apart from being very unpleasant for your pet (and for you cleaning up), Giardia can be quite difficult to treat. It is also not uncommon for a pet to have repeat bouts after they have recovered from the first one. Even worse, it is a zoonosis, which means it can potentially be transmitted from pets to their owners. Fortunately, it looks like this is rare in reality, which is a silver lining.
That’s the one that your dog catches from rat urine, which can contaminate stagnant water. It is a serious bacterial infection that can cause liver and kidney failure. Dogs can contract it through contact with water contaminated by infected urine. It can be pretty tricky to diagnose and very difficult to treat. Worse still, it is also a zoonosis. However, pet to owner transmission is probably very rare, with people most commonly contracting it through swimming or water sports in contaminated water bodies. It should be mentioned that leptospirosis in dogs is uncommon in the UK; this may be due to vaccination (none of the affected dogs in one study was vaccinated) or underdiagnosis.
Infections in pet dogs by this unpleasant parasite have become increasingly common in the UK over the last two decades, particularly in the South East and Wales. Lungworm can cause lung disease, bleeding problems and neurological disease. It was previously thought to be transmitted by dogs eating slugs and snails. More recently, evidence has suggested that gastropods shed the parasite in the environment, and dogs can be infected by drinking contaminated water.
Leptospirosis, what it is and where it comes from
Lepto is a disease that is frequently contracted by dogs drinking from standing water, such as puddles or ponds. A dog with Lepto will become extremely sick and can sometimes be fatal. This disease is a bacterial infection that enters your pup’s bloodstream. One reason a body of water could be infected is if an animal with Lepto would urinate in a body of water and in effect contaminating it. If an animal with Lepto even urinates on vegetation that your dog stiffs or puts their snout in they could contract Lepto.
Many animals can be carriers of Lepto, including but not limited to raccoons, mice, and rats. This is important to be aware of considering that many dogs contract Lepto from other animals urine contaminating an area. Dogs can also pass Lepto to one another, even if a dog has recovered from the disease they can still be a carrier of it for a few weeks after they’re well again.
THAT Is Why Dogs Should Not Drink From Puddles!
As a vet, I see lots of diarrhea â and when I say âlots,â I mean lots. One of the common causes of diarrhea in dogs worldwide is giardia, a parasite that dogs get from drinking from puddles, lakes, streams, or other sources of stagnant water. While itâs a year-round risk, giardia cases peak in the summer because people and pets spend more time outdoors and traveling. Hereâs everything you need to know about giardia in dogs, including how to spot it, treat it, and prevent it from happening in the first place.
Giardia is a ubiquitous single-celled protozoan parasite that can live in the intestines of dogs. The parasite thrives in cool, moist environments and can survive for months in the right conditions. Giardia can infect dogs, cats, wild animals and people too.
Giardiasis is transmitted by a fecal-oral route, meaning that the parasite is swallowed in food and water contaminated with feces. Your pet does not have to eat poop to get the parasite. In fact, dogs most commonly get giardia by drinking from contaminated water sources (think: puddles, gutters, lakes, and streams).Related article
Kennel cough has been making headlines this year, but you can prevent your pup from catching this super contagious disease. (Hint: thereâs a vaccine.)