Is contaminated fish water making dogs sick?

[silverbreeze]

I've seen this topic come up before, and the general consensus is that fish water is safe for human consumption. My situation's a bit different, though - my roommate's dog got into my fish water buckets multiple times, and now the dog's got diarrhea. My roommate's blaming my water, but I'm not buying it. I've had my fair share of accidental mouthfuls while siphoning, and my cats drink from the buckets all the time without issue. My fish are still alive and kicking, too. Apparently, the vet told my roommate it was the water, but I'm skeptical - with my vet tech background, I just can't think of any organism that would jump from fish water to a dog and cause illness. The vet prescribed Metronidazole, which seems like a generic "let's try this and hope it works" solution to me. I'm starting to think my roommate's not being entirely honest about the whole thing. Has anyone else dealt with a similar situation?

[phillis79]

I'd be surprised if the fish tank water was the culprit, unless maybe some meds are being added to it. Dogs aren't exactly known for being picky about what they drink or eat - I mean, they'll lap up water from a puddle or gobble up whatever's on the floor. So, I'm skeptical that fish water would be the problem. More likely, it's something in the dog's food that's causing the issue.

[silverbreeze]

I'd be surprised if the fish tank water was the culprit, unless maybe some meds are being added to it. Dogs aren't exactly known for being picky about what they drink or eat - I mean, they'll lap up water from a puddle or gobble up whatever's on the floor. So, I'm skeptical that fish water would be the problem. More likely, it's something in the dog's food that's causing the issue.

I'm inclined to agree with you, Phillis79. The dog's diet of leftover human food seems like a far more plausible culprit. I mean, think about it - the dog's eating who-knows-what from the floor, and then it's getting human food on top of that. It's no wonder it's getting sick. The fish water, on the other hand, just doesn't seem like a likely cause. I've had my fair share of close calls with it, what with siphoning and my cats drinking from it, and we've all been fine. I'm just trying to cover my bases here, make sure I'm not missing something. But honestly, I'm getting a bit frustrated with my roommate's claims - if the vet really won't tell her what's wrong, that's one thing, but I'm starting to think she's just not telling me the whole story.

[phillis79]

My dog was always poking around my old tank and having a drink while I was doing water changes, never had any issues with diarrhea. I mean, if the dog's eating human leftovers, it's bound to have a sensitive stomach - that's what dog food's for, right?

[silverbreeze]

I'd be surprised if the fish tank water was the culprit, unless maybe some meds are being added to it. Dogs aren't exactly known for being picky about what they drink or eat - I mean, they'll lap up water from a puddle or gobble up whatever's on the floor. So, I'm skeptical that fish water would be the problem. More likely, it's something in the dog's food that's causing the issue.

I agree, it's a recipe for disaster, but I wanted to rule out the fish water just in case.

[coltin]

I've seen cases where contaminated water can make animals sick, but it's usually from external factors like medications, bacteria, or heavy metals getting into the water. Cholera, Giardia, or E. coli can be present if someone with these diseases isn't following proper hygiene around the tank. However, if you're doing regular water changes and keeping your tank clean, it's unlikely to be the cause.

I'm thinking the dog's diet might be the culprit. Dogs can be sensitive to certain foods, and some human foods can be toxic to them. Have you checked what the dog's been eating lately? Some dogs have allergies or intolerances, and certain foods like grapes, onions, or chocolate can be really bad for them.

It's also possible the dog's getting into something around the house that's making it sick. Are there any plants or substances that could be harming the dog? I'm thinking maybe bug sprays, ant powder, or even hairsprays and perfumes. These can be poisonous to dogs if ingested.

[silverbreeze]

I've seen cases where contaminated water can make animals sick, but it's usually from external factors like medications, bacteria, or heavy metals getting into the water. Cholera, Giardia, or E. coli can be present if someone with these diseases isn't following proper hygiene around the tank. However, if you're doing regular water changes and keeping your tank clean, it's unlikely to be the cause.

I'm thinking the dog's diet might be the culprit. Dogs can be sensitive to certain foods, and some human foods can be toxic to them. Have you checked what the dog's been eating lately? Some dogs have allergies or intolerances, and certain foods like grapes, onions, or chocolate can be really bad for them.

It's also possible the dog's getting into something around the house that's making it sick. Are there any plants or substances that could be harming the dog? I'm thinking maybe bug sprays, ant powder, or even hairsprays and perfumes. These can be poisonous to dogs if ingested.

My roommate's feeding habits for the dog are pretty questionable. She lets it drink the milk from her cereal, despite me telling her that animals are lactose intolerant - she just didn't listen. The dog's also getting all sorts of leftovers she doesn't want to eat. I think this is way more likely to be the cause of the dog's illness than the fish water. I mean, all those things can wind up in the tap water if they end up in the fish tank, but I just can't think of anything that the fish would naturally have that'd make a dog sick.

[coltin]

I think the leftover food could be the issue, especially if it includes things dogs can't tolerate. The cow's milk on her cereal is a likely culprit, as dogs are lactose intolerant. The cereal itself could also be a problem, depending on its ingredients - many cereals contain wheat, and the dog might be wheat or gluten intolerant. If the dog has been on antibiotics, that could also be a factor.

To figure out what's causing the issue, a food diary would be helpful. Write down everything the dog eats and when, and monitor its behavior. If the dog consistently has diarrhea after eating certain foods, try cutting those out for a few weeks to see if it makes a difference. If that works, you can reintroduce foods one at a time to identify the trigger.

It's also possible that something on the owner's skin could be the cause, if the dog licks her hands or arms. Perfumes, moisturizers, and hand sanitizer can all be toxic to dogs if ingested.

[fancy]

I've seen this topic come up before, and the general consensus is that fish water is safe for human consumption. My situation's a bit different, though - my roommate's dog got into my fish water buckets multiple times, and now the dog's got diarrhea. My roommate's blaming my water, but I'm not buying it. I've had my fair share of accidental mouthfuls while siphoning, and my cats drink from the buckets all the time without issue. My fish are still alive and kicking, too. Apparently, the vet told my roommate it was the water, but I'm skeptical - with my vet tech background, I just can't think of any organism that would jump from fish water to a dog and cause illness. The vet prescribed Metronidazole, which seems like a generic "let's try this and hope it works" solution to me. I'm starting to think my roommate's not being entirely honest about the whole thing. Has anyone else dealt with a similar situation?

My bird's got a thing for fish tank water, despite having its own water dishes. Now that I've got covers on the tanks, it's moved on to sipping from the window condensation - guess that's just its thing.

[SeaBidder]

I've never had an issue with my dogs drinking from my fish tank water when I'm doing water changes.