Dog drinking water from water changes

[Corine1]

One of my dogs drinks from the bucket with the water from water changes. I don't usually leave it there, but occasionally forget for a few hours to dump it, and he's good at sneaking it when my backs turned. There are detritus worms in my aquariums, not an insane amount, but there regardless. Can these worms hurt him? This has been going on for a few months, so I'm not worried about him getting an upset stomach, instead I'm worried about these worms living inside him.

 

[SuperK]

I feel like the worms may only thrive in aquatic conditions and die in your dogs stomach due to acid and that

Honestly I think what would be best is to set a timer reminding you to dump out the water
Or just make sure you put the bucket somewhere the dog can't reach it
I wouldn't let a dog drink aquarium water cause there's all sorts of stuff in there ya kno
Wouldn't be good if we drank it so it's not good if your dog drinks it either

 

[Corine1]

Unfortunately, keeping it from him completely isn't very doable. He opens doors, so it's difficult to lock him outside (and with winter coming, it will be too cold). I change a few gallons a couple times a week, and don't dump the last bucket of water until done scooping out any floaties. This particular dog likes to be in everything I'm doing, especially aquarium stuff. He's stolen frozen bloodworms, algae waffers, fish food... I'll make him leave the room and he keeps sneaking in (it's in the living room area of the basement, so really open), I make him get away from the bucket, and he walks away for a minute, and then is back. If I catch him drinking it, and am on the other side of the room, he stares at me while drinking it, until I'm closer...

I recently saw a picture of a nematode (I think that's what it was) worm that was inside a human. It was huge. If there is a possibility of detritus worms living in mammels that drink them, my dog would have them... but then I'd need to figure out how to treat them.

 

[DAB56]

Yes I would be concerned with him drinking the water. Is there anyway you could put a lid or some type of covering over it just a plastic container lid and a heavy object on top of that. Dogs get themselves into all sorts of trouble with the things they will eat and drink, as cute and georgous as they are, they will put anythings in their mouths. Like babies I guess.

 

[Silister Trench]

There's not much to be concerned with unless you're adding new fish that could carry disease transferable p other animals - TB.

A cat I have drinks water all the time front he tank, but I can say for sure it's no disease or parasites

 

[Corine1]

There's not much to be concerned with unless you're adding new fish that could carry disease transferable p other animals - TB.

A cat I have drinks water all the time front he tank, but I can say for sure it's no disease or parasites

Do you have the detritus worms too? There have been no new fish added for a couple months. With the exception of the betta, added mid summer, the other fish were locally bred and bought young. The pet store I got them from kept fish seperate, so the farlowella was in with one other it came with, and the bn pleco was in with other baby bn plecos that were offspring of a breeding pair in the store, with their own tank. I feel very confident there is no illnesses in my fish... just those few little worms.

 

[Decoy]

I caught my cat twice. Once out of the bucket I was soaking driftwood in and then again out of the bucket at water change time. You only have to turn your back for a minute and the pets are at it. I hope your dog will be okay, my cat is still alive

 

[Rivieraneo]

LOL! No worries. Tank water won't harm your dog in any way. If the water was bad enough to harm your dog, your fish would be affected first. I just wouldn't let him drink any water that may have been exposed to any fish medications or treatments. Best of luck.

 

[purslanegarden]

Good idea on the lid. That should keep the dog out of the water.

 

[oOBlueOo]

My cat does this all the time. I thought he liked the wide surface area, so I filled up an ice cream bucket.

Aaaaand he still drinks the fish water. Animals are weird...

 

[Aristotle]

I second the lid or any cover for the bucket. It may be a hassle, but in my opinion it's our duty to go out of our way to keep our animals in good / happy condition even if drinking the water won't severely hurt the dog.

 

[DAB56]

Absolutely and due to your dog getting used to doing this, there could come the day when you have to use medications and forget momentarily and turn away briefly after taking it out of the tank and sadly your dog is placed at risk by ingesting the poison in the medicated water

 

[Silister Trench]

Yeah I've caught her drinking from my shrimp tank with detritus worms and seed shrimp. Honestly, fish TB might be the only concern, and even then I'm not at all certain if a cat or dog could contract it or be a carrier after drinking it. That's the only disease I can think of off the top of my head that is transferable to other species. As far as parasites? Meh, unless your animal is eating dead fish and again... not even sure about transfer.

I've seen dogs drink out of stagnant swamps with no ill effects. Is it a problem? Meh, it's more annoying than likely a health concern. And there's no concern at all with detritus worms. There like earth worms - gross but just a food source for some. Once in a while in my shrimp take I dump some Neons just to eat them all. They're just food.

 

[cheese]

I never thought of it until the last post but a few years back we had a king shepherd, he was 2 years old...I remember my family took him for a walk at a little park that has a big pond and ditches and it's a pretty swampy area. the dog drank from the water (which stunk, I clearly remember him smelling from stepping in the water) and he had a seizure that night, which began about a year long journey of medications which ended up not working and my parents decided to put him down. I have NO idea if this was the cause for the seizures and him being ill, but it happened the same night...like something got into him from that water. it was horrible, it could have been anything though, brain problems, or even a bee sting. but I wouldn't risk it, at least with letting a dog drink from a stagnant swamp or such. just my two cents about that