A veterinary nurse has issued a stark warning to dog owners about the health risks of letting their pets drink from particular water bowls - as they can spread diseases including kennel cough and leptospirosis11:54, 07 Jul 2026Updated 11:54, 07 Jul 2026As the hot weather continues across the UK and Ireland this week, many well-meaning shop and pub owners are likely to put out water bowls for dogs. However, a veterinary nurse has issued a stark warning about the dangers of pets drinking from these shared containers.‌"Don't let your dogs drink from communal water bowls whilst out on a walk!" urged nurse Jade in a TikTok video. "Communal water bowls are any water bowls that have been left outside of a person's house, outside of a shop, or even at the dog park - basically any that multiple dogs can drink from."‌She warned that these well-intentioned water bowls could harbour harmful germs. Jade highlighted the dangers, citing kennel cough, leptospirosis, and the canine papilloma virus as significant health risks.‌Indeed, her video alerted pet owners to the hidden dangers lurking in communal drinking spots, with Jade explaining: "You don't know if the water is fresh, if it's stagnant or when the last time the bowl was cleaned and what it was cleaned with. Plus you don't know what other animals may have been drinking out of it because other wildlife can freely drink out of them as well."Content cannot be displayed without consentJade further raised concerns about these public dog water bowls, pointing out that they can harbour parasites including tapeworms, roundworms, giardia, and lungworm, which may be spread via creatures like slugs.‌"The bowls can also be a reservoir for bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli to grow, which can really upset your dogs' tummies," she cautioned.Driving her point home, she went on to say: "Whilst I know these bowls are put out for the right reasons, I strongly advise dog owners not letting their dogs drinking from them."If you want your dog to drink, take a travel bowl with you and a bottle of water and just stop occasionally to allow them a drink."‌Writing in response, one TikTok user revealed they actively avoid such shared water dishes, commenting: "My dog never drinks out of these bowls anyway I think she knows there's something wrong with them."Another was left stunned, writing: "Our vet has one, just sitting in the waiting room for 10 minutes and seeing the amount of dogs drinking from it that are potentially ill/unvaccinated is insane!"A third person added: "This is why at my pet shop I never fill it until they request to so it can be sanitised and given per dog. People moan it's always empty and I have to repeatedly explain why!"Article continues belowMeanwhile, a fourth individual pointed out a scenario where communal bowls could prove useful: "The only way this kind of offering water is helpful is for stray dogs."If you live in an area where there's a chance that stray dogs pass through put water out in safe places. Change it often."And a fifth TikTok user admitted: "I always carry a travel bowl and fresh water but I've never thought about this before. Good advice right here."