The “simple task” could save you a trip to the vets
A warning has been issued to all dog owners that could save their pet’s life. In the message, it warned that this is a task people should be doing often, yet some may not be doing it at all.
On the TikTok channel, @allaboutdogfood, David, who has “a decade as a pet food nutritionist” said that it’s a “simple task that can really help your dog’s health, but it often does get forgotten about.”
Posing the question “how often do you wash your dog’s water bowl?” he notes that “although your dog’s water bowl may look clean, if you leave it down for too long, a thin film called biofilm can build up.”
In fact, he is not the only one to warn of biofilm. Speaking of the same dangers, Pets4Homes warns: “Water bowls left uncleaned or rinsed only briefly can develop biofilm, a slimy layer where harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and other pathogens thrive.
“These can provoke serious gastrointestinal upset in your dog, including vomiting and diarrhoea. Additionally, fungi and parasites like Giardia may contaminate water bowls or outside water sources such as puddles and lakes.”
David continued: “You might have noticed it if you ever run your finger on the inside of your dog’s bowl or any container that has had water in it for a while.” It may even feel slightly “slimy” around the edges.
This film contains “harmful bacteria, including salmonella, E-coli and things like that” which “can really harm their health. So it’s important to clean it right away.” To avoid this issue, David concludes: “The best thing to do is clean once per day with some hot soapy water.”
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Owners should also be aware of not only their dog’s own bowls, but communal dog bowls too. The experts at Pets4Home explain that “communal water bowls, often found outside pubs or parks, increase these risks due to multiple dogs sharing the same water.”
It warns: “Viruses including kennel cough and canine papilloma virus may transmit through shared saliva. Studies in 2025 UK veterinary circles emphasise avoiding communal bowls to protect your dog from respiratory infections and other diseases.”
Kennel cough symptoms
Kennel cough is an airway infection that causes a dry hacking cough in dogs. The charity PDSA say the signs and symptoms to look out for include:
- Hacking cough
- A reduced appetite
- Low energy (lethargy)
- A high temperature (fever)
Symptoms of kennel cough typically develop within three to 14 days and last for one to three weeks. Most dogs develop a hacking cough and remain otherwise quite well, but puppies, older dogs, and those with poor health can develop more serious symptoms.
