Water and side effects

[Rachel]

Do you think that the water we drink which is full of chemicals and the like could ever have allergy problems in Weimaraners ?
It was just a thought because I am currently doing an NVQ in dog grooming, and lots and lots of theory to go through. Our tutor was telling us, and I never knew this ( I am sure you will do), that the tear stains on white cats or dogs is caused by our tap water chemicals causing a reaction with in the dog and the acid with in the dog, making the tear stains dye the fur red. Now I never knew this, but found it interesting. Then I got to think that all our dogs actually have rain water to drink from a tank we collect water, it is lovely and clear water. Also friends of mine always say how their dogs prefer rain water over tap water. Then this week our water tasted horrible and it does on occasion when they add into the systems more chemicals. So are any health problems caused by tap water that anyone knows

Rachel

[greyghost]

I found these websites which may or may not explain some things:

www.bhejei.com/tearsta.htm

www.bulldogsworld.com/tear.html

It's interesting that they both attribute staining from water round the face and chest, not the eyes, to higher mineral content in some areas.

More likely to be the eye structure or genetic rather than the water.

I know some people take home a supply of local water when picking up their pups to change over gradually. If the pups are brought up on a variety of different foods and minerals from weaning they would probably produce the necessary enzymes to cope with changes.

Food for thought indeed.........

BTW Holly rarely drinks tap water and prefers muddy puddles and rivers. They do seem to know what they prefer.

[wimmyweimaraner]

Water is sometimes an enemy when it's contaminated. In a newspaper article that I've read, a contaminated water supply killed 130dogs in an Asian country. It contains different kinds of microorganism that are deadly.