WATER city, well, bottled, sharing?
Since we were dog-showing this past weekend with all four of our dogs in tow, it made me start thinking about all the extra water that we travel with. Be it bottled water for ourselves or for the dogs.
This thought led me to think about communal water dishes that we often see at dog parks, pet stores, etc.
So today, I want to talk about water. It does not sound like a glorious topic, but I do think it is important just the same.
Whether you travel extensively with your dogs or are just headed to the beach for the day. Water is an important must-have item to bring with you and here is why….
Depending on where you are, the local water may be processed differently than where you are visiting. This can actually lead to an upset tummy, not always something we think about, BUT if you are going to be out and about for days on end, the last thing you need is a dog with diarrhea.
We are on well water here at our home, and for many years I would fill jugs and take them with me. In the past year or so, I have actually switched the dogs and cats over to bottled water since we do not have a filtration system on the house. Our well water tends to be “hard”, I worry that it may not be good for them. So, I have a water service.
This also simplifies when we travel, because I can buy bottled water pretty much any place we go if needed.
My school of thought is this…. If I won’t drink it (yes, I will admit I am a water snob), then I do not expect my family or pets to drink it either.
COMMUNAL DISHES
Now, let’s talk about sharing water. This is a BIG no-thank-you in my book.
Many places such as dog parks, pet stores, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, etc. have communal water dishes.
Here is the thing, you don’t know the last time that bowl was cleaned or the health of the dog that drank before yours. Are you willing to take a chance on your dog potentially picking up bacteria or parasites? For me, that is a hard NO!
Communal water dishes can also be contaminated with fecal matter…yup I said it. YUCK! I know many dogs that love to play in the water dish with their paws, after running around at the dog park picking up who knows what on their pads. We won’t even go into butt-sniffing!!!
Here are some of the diseases that can be passed through communal water bowls (thank you to the American Kennel Club for this list):
· Intestinal Worm Parasites
· Giardia
· Leptospirosis
· Canine papilloma virus
· Kennel cough
· Salmonella
That list alone should curb your desire to share a water dish with dogs outside of your home.
BEST DISHES
With all this talk about the water, I want to touch base on the type of bowls that are best to use. If you have ever had your dog in for training with me, you know that I will not take any bowls that are not stainless. This is because they can be sanitized easily and will not harbor bacteria like plastic can.
I often use ceramic (I love my fountain water dish) in the house, as it too is easy to clean up and not chewable.
ESSENTIAL OIL CLEANING TIP
Of course, my Training Tuesday would not be complete without an EO tip! Since we are talking about water dishes, let’s talk about keeping them sanitized naturally.
I like to use white vinegar and doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil for cleaning. I actually use this mix (4oz glass spray bottle with 30 drops of lemon topped with vinegar) to clean all my stainless bowls after each meal. After the dogs eat, I line the bowls up on the counter, spray them all down and wipe them out, making them ready to go at the next meal.
I hope you found todays tips helpful! If anything, you may now think twice about letting your dog drink out of that random dish at the coffee shop!
As always, if you need help getting your hands on your own doTERRA Essential Oils, make sure to reach out, I am always happy to help!
CONNECT WITH ME!
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