Stagnant doggy drinking water

**catfancier** · 04-03-2008, 10:11 PM

Hi everyone

I'm trying to work out whether stagnant drinking water is harmful to dogs (and other pets). I'm talking about the type of water that is just left sitting in bowls/buckets/puddles to the point where it attracts green algae.

Does anyone know whether algae affects the quality of the water and if it is potentially harmful to pets?

Would you leave your dog's drinking water for so long that the container began to grow algae?

Thanks very much
catfancier

**IRescue452** · 04-03-2008, 10:22 PM

Blue-green algae is deadly to humans and pets if consumed, even the tiny bit that might be swallowed while swimming can be deadly. There are many websites addressing this issue. I post signs at our dog park each summer when the algae starts as well, warning against letting dogs use the pond. I change my animals' water daily, all animals, even the mice.

**mr.chiwawa** · 04-03-2008, 11:52 PM

Mister has one of those running drinking fountains for that very reason. Plus he loves to play in it.

And with the filter I get peace of mind

**pitc9** · 04-04-2008, 08:37 AM

Inside the dog water bowl is emptied everyday (thanks to the water buffalo I call Buddy

) and I clean it a few times a month.
It never gets slimy.

But I have a 5 gallon pail outside that I keep near the garden hose and I dump it and refill it once in a while and I have to make sure to remember to wash it out once in a while. Only once have I seen the bottom of it getting green and slimy. I felt so bad.

**moosmom** · 04-04-2008, 10:48 AM

Would you leave your dog's drinking water for so long that the container began to grow algae

Um, let me put it this way...would YOU drink green water????

**Taz_Zoee** · 04-04-2008, 12:39 PM

The water bucket that my brothers dogs use in the kennels gets green and slimy. It makes me SOOOO angry!!

If I ever leave Zoee there I will stop and clean out the water dish completely. I can't believe they let their dogs drink out of it. OH, and the water bowl at their house gets icky too. All they do is refill it. When I'm there I clean it out then fill it.
I don't say anything because I don't want to anger my big brother. He is, afterall, always watching Zoee for us. So I just quietly (well, most of the time I'm quiet about it

) take care of it myself.

I had read a story before, I'm sure it was here on PT, about a dog that went swimming in a lake or something then died a few hours later. And it was due to the algae in the water. The dog wasn't even "drinking" the water. It was just the small amount that the dog accidentally ingested while swimming. Probably swimming out and fetching toys.

**lizbud** · 04-04-2008, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by moosmom

Um, let me put it this way...would YOU drink green water????

That's one way to put the water question.

There no need to worry about water bowls at my house, I refresh and
fill it several times a day. My pups & cats love clean water. I wouldn't
let my animals drink any water that I wouldn't drink.

**moosmom** · 04-19-2008, 12:04 PM

Well, my brilliant millionaire of a chemical engineer brother said water isn't chemical engineering, but in his opinion, it's not a good idea to drink it.

Well DUH!!!! And to think my parents spent thousants of dollars on his education. *sigh*

**Tora Oni** · 04-19-2008, 10:23 PM

Well as far as I know Stagnant water isn't good for anyone. I mean stale water isn't but when its been sitting there for days it kinda can get pretty nasty, expecially being in a bowl open to the air.