Question:
Tasha, my 10 year old, female, golden mix, has an upset stomach, and has not eaten today. She normally has a good appetite. She is acting like she doesn't feel well--she is normally perky and nosing around in anything I am doing.

I recently (one month ago) got a 20 gallon pond that is up on my deck. The pond has plants, a filter, and 4 gold fish. Tasha has decided that this is her new outside watering source. I am wondering if the pond water is making her feel sick. There are no signs of diarhhea or vomiting.

Is there anything I can give her to make her feel better? Do I need to schedule an appointment with the vet? Or should I wait a few days and see if things get better? I have put some chicken wire over the pond, so she can't drink out of it anymore. Also, she is on the same prescription dog food that her brother, Buster, is on (Hills W/D) as they feel they must eat the same thing, so her diet is healthy.

Please help...

Answer:
I doubt that drinking clean, filtered water would make your dog sick. At 10 years old, loss of appetite could be a symptom of a number of things.

If she still has no appetite tomorrow, I would make a vet appt.

Answer:
Dogs can have bad days, just like humans. She can have a touch of flu or something she ate. I would offer her some plain boiled rice. I bet she will eat it! It is good for her also.

Good idea about putting a cover over the pond. A little won't hurt her, but I wouldn't want to see her drinking from it all the time.

You might also want to think about getting a plastic kiddy pool for your dogs. The love to play in it and drinking the water won't hurt.

Let us know tomorrow how she is feeling. I would seek a vet advice tomorrow if she isn't any better.

Heather

Answer:
since there are fish in the water, it is anything but clean water. there is bacteria from the fish, and even more bacteria that feed off of the fishes bacteria. This bacteria does not hurt the fish, infact with out it they would actually die. In a lake the concentrations are low because of all the water, in a closed system though ie a pond(be it natural or not) aquarium, swamp the concentrations get pretty high. This is what Pond fever or what is sometimes called Beaver fever is from. Usually you would get diarhea from this, so I'm also unsure if this is the cause of your dog not feeling well. Ask anyone who runs aquariums if they would ever consider taking a sip of the water out of it, most would rather drink from their own toilet first.

Answer:
Can get Giardia from this as well. Parasitic disease they call Bever Fever.
Animals deficate in the water...your dog drinks it and voila little parasites end up in the gut and colon.

Stool sample to the vets if it continues (give a stool sample only if the dogs not already on antibiotics, wait 7 days after antibiotics are done to give a fresh sample as meds can give a false negative sample)

Answer:
Thank you, Luba, for the insight. The pond is in a "whiskey barrel' type tub, and animals cannot deficate in it. But, as I wrote earlier, there are 4 small gold fish and some live plants in it. I called vet this am, and am taking a stool sample, so we'll see.

Thanks again, Marshon

Answer:
I'd still be careful you may have racoons visit it, and squirrels too!

They can do the same damage, and racoon urine may containe another danger and give your dog leptosporosis. Long word but essence, make the dog sick lol

Answer: