Pet owners taking dogs on walks near ‘ponds or rivers’ issued warning

As warmer weather and days off provide greater opportunity for lengthy walks, pets face an increased risk of consuming water from contaminated sources. From standing ponds to communal bowls, common water sources can harbour bacteria, parasites and chemicals that may result in “serious illness”.

With greater numbers of dogs enjoying time outdoors, Chris Maxted, director of motorhome dog gate supplier Dog-G8, highlights the less obvious water sources owners should keep an eye on and how owners can make better decisions to prevent a visit to the vet’s. One of these unseen risks is the presence of rat urine in bodies of water your dog may be swimming in, or drinking from. Pond, ditch or river water is also full of bacteria you do not want to go near. Chris says: “Stagnant water from places such as ponds and ditches can contain bacteria, algae and diseases, which spreads through contaminated water and mud, often linked to rat urine.”

He adds: “Clear, free-flowing rivers and streams are usually lower risk, but there’s still the possibility of contamination from upstream sources.”

Pet experts at PDSA said Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that causes serious illness by damaging important organs such as the liver and kidneys.

It said one common way for dogs to catch the disease is from “water or soil that has been contaminated with infected urine from another animal (mainly rats)”. In particular, “slow moving or stagnant water such as rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, canals, drains and floodwater”.

It spreads in urine and can live in water or soil for months. Leptospirosis enters the body through the mouth, nose or wounds. Leptospirosis can cause vomiting, jaundice, diarrhoea , lethargy, reduced appetite, weight loss, drinking and weeing more frequently, difficulty breathing, coughing.

Water sources you should keep your dogs away from include shared or communal water bowls. Chris says: “Communal water bowls can expose pets to bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, as well as viruses and parasites.

“With multiple animals and even wildlife using the same bowl and no way of knowing how often it is cleaned, there’s a high risk of contamination.”

Puddle water is not a safe bet either. Chris says: “Puddles may contain more than just rainwater, they can hide things like bacteria and parasites that upset your dog’s stomach and can be hard to get rid of.

“They can also pick up more serious risks from the environment, including infections spread through animal urine, parasites, and even toxic substances like antifreeze.”

“Sea water is not suitable for pets to drink because of its high salt content, which can lead to salt poisoning, also known as hypernatraemia, causing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and tremors.”

Chris advises that on walks – you should keep your dogs away from any naturally occurring water sources and stick to giving them what they have at home. He says: “The best thing to do on walks is to bring fresh water from home and offer it regularly, especially during warmer weather or longer outings when dogs are more likely to drink from unsafe sources.”