eph94

What's the consensus on letting dogs drink from rivers and streams in the woods? I know humans shouldn't do it, but then again, we can't eat raw meat (for the most part) either but dogs can. I'm just wondering if I have to keep telling Harley to "leave it" whenever we come up a river. (There's also a river that borders our property that he loves to splash around in and sometimes he will indulge in a drink.)

micdobe

I've never bothered to try to make my dogs not drink from rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes, whatever. Haven't seen any negative results from it in 31 years. Mic used to appear to be trying to drink the perc ponds dry when he went there. It was there that he also ate a long dead fish, I was worried about that but his breeder wasn't, and nothing came of it.

Chaz

My guys have always drank from the streams we cross when out hiking. None have shown any negative effects. I will encourage them to drink because they usually get distracted by the animals that live by water and forget that they're thirsty.

My Vet thinks it's OK (I asked because I was wondering the same thing) and she said it's important to keep them current on their heart-worm preventitive.

The streams in our local mountains all look good to me, but I will filter the water before I drink it.

Around the house, the Dogs will drink from puddles and bird-baths, which look alot worse to me than the water we find in the mountains.

DobeMom616

I let Cole drink unless the water looks really bad. But, then again, if it is really bad, he doesn't even attempt to drink it. They are not drinking that much of it. Its not like you give it to them everyday. I would also be sure to have your lepto up to date if it is in your area.

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DobeMom

Luvbirds59

I've let my dogs drink from outside water for 30 years with no problems.

Carol

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Luv_my_Bruno

We don't let Bruno drink from lakes, streams, rivers etc from around here. Just because I wouldn't drink it, so I don't want him to drink it lol. There are some rivers up North tho that he's drank out of when camping. I have no problem with that.

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hbwright

We have a pond and Jordan loves to drink out of the pond and the spitter fountain. There is one pond that I won't let him near, never mind drink from though. It is just nasty.

Acooper

Well Orson drinks from the toilette bowl even when his dish is full, fresh, and cold............so as long as he is on parasite control he drinks what he deems yummy, heh!

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Angie

LapDog

lol Ive never thought about it...I always just naturally discourage them from drinking it...hmmm lol.

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CoAl-s-Mom

Isn't anyone worried about giardia? We see this several times a year at the clinic I work at.