Should dogs share water bowls? That question riddled my mind some time between three and four one morning standing across the street from my house in my PJ’s.

My exhausted brain had three consecutive nights of interrupted sleep -due to both Dood’s experiencing Poopa-Pa-Looza – to figure out what was wrong.

Like a really bad off-off broadway play – the opening act began with Jaxson. 

Lee and I went out to dinner in the middle of the week, we were g4ne maybe two hours and came home to a nightmare. Jax had gotten sick (from both ends) throughout the first floor.

So uncharacteristic of him, I couldn’t be angry. I cleaned (praise the Lord for my Ruggable Washable Rug) and thought that was the end of a one time occurrence. I had no idea what was coming next.

This horrendous performance went on all night long (sing it Lionel Richie) and by dawn I was saw double as I drunk-stumbled into the office.

CNN UPDATES – 

Don’t know about your house, but in mine, when somethings not right – Lee acts like Anderson Cooper reporting breaking news – every hour – on the hour – via text – 

there’s more sh$& coming out again

I text back reminding him there’s not much I can do about this when I’m at work, but his updates keep coming anyway. I beg him to hang in there and reassure him that I’ll be home as soon as possible.

Their dinner consisted of chicken and rice that evening, but Jax’s faucet kept running. A little after midnight, I felt Harley’s paw clawing the side of my bed. His wide alert pupils barked it all. I jumped up hopping across the floor pulling pants on one leg at a time as we both raced to the front door.

Yep – the calimockus (caul ey mock us) (a word I made up for every intestinal issue the human children brought home) had attacked again.

STREET LIFE – 

The next day, I called Doodle Doc. She prescribed some holistic goop that looked like liver paste and told me to –

Stay the course

Their appetites remained strong and their thirst was normal. But the second night the play continued, just Act II with an additional cast member.

I think I spent more time in the street that night than I did in my bed. They never got the bubblies at the same time – their bouts with loose stool were not in sync. That swing chair on the porch was looking really comfy about 4:30am.

SOMETHING’S IN THE WATER – 

Day three. It’s official, I’m delirious but determined to stop this from continuing. I was ready to call an audible and force the final curtain call – NOW.

As I proceeded to refill their water dishes, I was so sleep deprived, I stood there hypnotized at the running water filling the bowl and then BAM, I snapped out of my trance and thought – 

it’s the water

Whatever Jaxson was battling with, he’s now given it to Harley –

it’s got to be in the water

SHOULD DOGS SHARE WATER BOWLS? – 

I (like most of us) am not a veterinarian, so I have to rely on my common sense. As I started researching the pro’s and con’s of communal water bowls I kept thinking – 

I wouldn’t drink behind someone else, why am I making the Boys do it?

Are communal water bowls healthy or a health risk?

I don’t allow them to drink from communal bowls that we see in front of restaurants and retail stores. I think the intent is a very kind gesture, but I never allowed them to indulge. 

Just because they live together, could a shared water bowl create a health risk?

While contagious diseases in dogs are more commonly spread through coughing or sneezing, it is possible for dogs to be exposed to pathogens when communal water boils are contaminated. In general, it is safer to have a separate water source for your dog. AKC

I never EVER thought – making them share a water bowl had the potential of becoming an incubator for contagious diseases. 

TIME TO CHANGE – 

As much as I adored their three bowl feeding station, it was time to change…

I also decided that Jaxson needed a more elevated food station because he’s a bit taller from the first one I purchased – so I was able to find the same bowl stands with seven different height settings…

Because the heights differ, Harley doesn’t try to stretch his neck to get to Jaxson’s water and Jaxson prefers not to lower his neck…

If you have multiple pets sharing the same bowl, it’s super important to wash the bowl daily – there’s a higher chance of germs entering the bowl.

THE REST OF THE STORY – 

Day three we shut this hideous theatre debacle down! I picked up a prescription from Doodle Doc that reversed everything instantly. The Boys bounced back…

… and we all napped most of the weekend away.

I finally stopped blaming myself. I never meant to set the conditions for them to get sick and I am happy with their new feeding station because the bowls are much deeper and I’ve noticed they’re both drinking more water. 

If you want to know more about water bowls, read the links I’ve included in this post. I learned a lot, perhaps there’s valuable information in there for you to learn and share as well.

Caring for animals is a noble calling, and when done well, can result in the undying gratitude of pets, as well as the humans they own. ❤️

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