Dog water buckets/germ transmission?

[MimzMum]

So, now that winter is here in full force, we cannot use our outdoor hose or water faucets. To keep the dogs drinking water during the cold months, we have to bring the buckets they use indoors and wash them out in the bathtub, then refill them. Usually this invovles thawing a bunch of ice left from the night before and the doggy spit-filled water tends to back up all the way to the back of the tub.

However, I also rinse and clean the bunnies’ litter boxes in the tub. (I usually clean the tub out first with some Tilex or other bleach product and hot water.) So since I know dogs can transmit worms and germs to bunnies, I am concerned that just Tilex may not be enough to keep the shared surface clean. What do you guys think?

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Alicia Conklin]

What about spraying it with some lysol? or a vinegar rinse first?  Personally I think tilex would be ok..I just rinse my tub with hot water if there’s something icky that has been in it…

Also…my bunnies share a water dish with the dogs when they’re in the kitchen…is this bad?? should they not do that?  I just leave the water dish down where it is and let the bunnies get their water there when they’re playing in there….maybe I should pick up the water dish each time???  It’s just a water crock so it’s where the dogs, the cats, and bunnies all get their water from.  My cats also will drink from the bunny’s crock in their pen..is THAT bad too? 

 

[KatnipCrzy]

If dogs or cats that are using the water bowl are healthy and parasite free then there is no risk to the bunny of picking up something- especially with indoor water bowls for indoor dogs and cats.  For outdoor water bowls- the only risk I can think of if the dogs are healthy is if any wildlife ever uses the bowl as a water source, birds, etc- they could possible contaminate the water.  But it sounds like you clean the tub well before introducing any rabbit equipment.  If you want to be on the 100% safe side I would use a bleach solution to spray down the tub first- maybe there is bleach in Tilex?  ( I am not sure).  Bleach is what shelters and vet clinics use to clean the floors, tables, sinks, etc when there is any suspected contagious pet.

[MimzMum]

Yes, Tilex has a high bleach content (that’s what my nose tells me) and I really spray it down good and wash it out with hot water afterward. I just don’t know WHAT gets into my dogs’ water dishes and just can’t afford to take the chance.

My cats often get into the bunny xpen just to try and drink from the water dish, so I stopped using the dish and set the sippy bottle on the side instead. I know the cats won’t use that. (Sadly, sometimes the bunnies won’t either…kind of the same way that Mimzy wouldn’t use the litter box in the xpen and would only use the one in his night pen…picky things.)

Personally, Tucker, my dogs are way too big to have anywhere near my bunnies, so I can’t speak to the mutual watering hole, but I would think that Katnip answered the question pretty well.

If any of the forum leaders would like to chime in, I’m all ears. ^_^ (Not difficult to be all ears on a bunny site. xD )

[Beka27]

i have no experience with this. i would think that cleaning the tub should be good to kill any germs, but i wonder if anyone has more info on this…?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’m going to go with that it should be no problem. You’re cleaning and disinfecting and doing a great job. There aren’t many things that can be transmitted (worms etc) so its not much risk. Also worms have to be inhaled from the spores from poop, soooo I wold think as long as they don’t poop in their bowls there is very little risk. Many people have dogs around thier bunnies so yes, I’d say low risk

[Beka27]

also, i’m sure your dogs are vaccinated against anything dogs might need vaccinated against…

[MimzMum]

Yup, we keep up on all that good stuff. Have to, not just because it’s the law, but because we have so many wild things getting into our yard (moose, wildcats, bears, foxes, wild rabbits, ravens, etc.) and any one of them can carry disease. We keep a tight rein on our boys.

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