Are you one of those people who likes to use those blue tablets or liquids that keep the toilet fresh and clean? You’re not alone. These are common in many households. They’re usually not dangerous, unless your dog tends to drink out of the toilet.
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Why Do Dogs Drink Toilet Water?
That’s a great question! Our fur babies have many habits we just can’t understand. Whether they have a taste for things that died a few months ago, love to roll in smelly things, or have a penchant for eating the poo from the kitty’s litter box, dogs seem to be very non-discerning when it comes to ingesting things.
This, of course, also applies to toilet water. Why does a dog go for toilet water? One of the attractions could be the fact that the water in the toilet runs frequently. For a dog, this is an indicator the water is fresh and clean, rather than dirty and stagnant. Yes, it’s toilet water, bur your dog’s natural instincts may drive him to drink water that’s fresh.
Another reason is that the water is easily accessible. If your fur baby is tall enough to drink out of the toilet, it could be a matter of accessibility and convenience.
In some cases, there may be no obvious answer. Dogs may just prefer toilet water for their own reasons!
Problem with Toilet Water: Germs & Cleaning Agents
Your fur baby could face getting sick if he drinks toilet water on a regular basis. This is especially the case if you don’t clean the toilet very often. Your fur baby could be lapping up E.coli and other nasties! You may rethink getting kisses from your dog after this!
The other issue is if you use those colored liquids or tablets that help keep the toilet fresh and clean. These products can contain toxic chemicals such as bleach. Other harmful chemicals in these products can also include sodium peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, and hypochlorite salts. These chemicals can be toxic for your fur baby.
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Ask a Vet Live NowTreatment for Dog Drinking Toilet Water
If your canine companion has only had a little toilet water, chances are he will be OK. He may develop stomach upset, vomiting and/or diarrhea. In that case, you can give him some fresh water or milk to dilute the water he’s had to drink.
Some toilet products may also cause some irritation of the skin around your dog’s mouth and throat. This most often develops if your dog has eaten one of those tablets or disks. If you’ve found your pup chewing on one of these, get him to the vet as soon as possible—this could be a medical emergency.
We’re happy to tell you that in most cases your dog will be OK if he only drinks a little of the blue toilet water. However, be sure to call the vet if your canine companion’s had a lot of toilet water to drink, or has eaten a toilet cleaning tablet.
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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