Do you cringe at a dog toilet drinking? I’m going to bet you’ve never sipped from your porcelain king. Yet, there are many dog toilet bowl drinkers.
Dogs seem to love some of the grossest things. Even some of their food smells like it could peel the paint off the walls. But then they want to give us a kiss with that tongue we know it’s been in the most questionable places. Ugh!
Why does a dog love to drink toilet water? Is it dangerous or simply gross? What can dog parents do to prevent their canines from partaking in this icky behavior? We’ll clean up and answer all these questions and more.
Budget tip:
It doesn’t take much effort to ensure that your dog doesn’t drink from your loo. But when you do your dog can avoid being sick and you receiving a pricey emergency vet bill. That can be a major win-win for you and your dog!
Why does a dog toilet drink?
There can be a few reasons why a dog would lap up toilet water. These include:
Is it dangerous for a dog to drink toilet water?
I always like to say that I would never let my dog or allow him to do anything I wouldn’t do. As such, I can say without hesitation that I would never drink from the toilet. Thus, I would never allow my dog, Henry, to do it either. Why you ask?
Of course, there’s the simple gross factor. But besides that, there are a few other issues you may not think about including:
Germs and bacteria
Yes, toilets have germs and harmful bacteria. According to WebMD, a toilet bowl, especially public restrooms (although any porcelain throne) could contain E coli, staph, hepatic A, common cold, and even various STDs.
Chemicals
Any type of toilet bowl cleaner you use will be lapped up when your dog drinks the water. However, if you use a cleaning product that turns your toilet tank and toilet bowl blue, it’s extremely toxic. If your dog drinks that toilet water, rush to the vet.
Medications
If you are one of those “if it’s yellow, let it mellow” type people, then your dog will be exposed to any medications you are taking such as high blood pressure, thyroid, diabetes, cholesterol, antibiotics, and other medications. Moreover, if you indulge in any illicit drugs or alcohol your dog will drink it as well. This could be extremely hazardous.
Note: You can always call the Pet Poison Hotline at ASPCA 24/7 Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. There may be a fee for both, but well it if you need assistance immediately. Or you can try an online vet.
How do I keep my pup from being a dog toilet water drinker?
You’ll be pleased to know that you most likely won’t need to spend a cent to change this behavior. Rather, you will need to change your behavior. Easy solutions to stop your dog from lapping up toilet bowl water include:
Note: If you have a communal water bowl for several dogs, you will need to clean it more often. Especially if one is a backwash drinker.
However, if you feel these aren’t sufficient solutions for your clever toilet water-drinking pup, then you can also attach a child-proof toilet lid lock to the toilet cover. It is cheap. Additionally, you can purchase these locks at your local hardware store. However, make sure all your family members know how to unlock the toilet or you may have more issues.
Note: Feng Shui promotes putting the throne’s seat and covers down as well as shutting bathroom doors to keep money from going down the toilet bowl. That’s a great image to keep in mind to motivate you to keep your seats, covers, and doors shut.
How do I save money by stopping dog toilet bowl drinking?
You may not think that simply putting the toilet seat down and shutting the door to the king’s or queen’s throne could save you money, but consider the following possible expenses.
Related articles:
Keep those tongues in around the loo!
While you may only have thought your dog lapping up toilet water was gross, it’s much more. It’s a health issue. Actually, it can lead to an emergency vet bill and a very sick pup. It only takes a few steps to make sure that the seat, cover, and door are shut. Also, a clean dog water bowl can ensure your pup doesn’t dive into your porcelain bowl. It can save you money and keep your pup healthy!
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Categories Care Savings and Other Tips
