Q: We leave a bucket of water outside for our dog Waldo. I say it needs to be changed every day. My husband says as long as there is water in it, he’s fine. His argument is that dogs drink out of muddy puddles so day-old water is not a problem. What do you think?

A: Has anyone noticed lately that a lot of these questions have been husband and wife arguments? I’m beginning to feel like this is a marriage counseling column instead of an animal behavior one! How about I just address the needs of the animal, and I’ll let you two work out your differences? I don’t think I want to get in the middle of any arguments.

First, I’m guessing from the question that Waldo is an outside dog since you make no mention of water dishes inside the house. Since we are coming into colder weather, outside dogs especially need some extra care. Water buckets can freeze during the day making it impossible for dogs to get enough water. Some people believe that the dog licking the ice provides enough water, but this just isn’t true. Plus some dogs don’t like licking the ice, so they get no water at all when the bucket freezes. You can either invest in a heated water bowl that keeps the water defrosted or make sure you change the water a few times a day. Better yet, bring Waldo inside where it’s warm and cozy. Even if it’s just a garage, that’s better than bitter cold days and nights outside. If Waldo is outside all winter, make sure he has a warm dog house with a heating pad. Blankets alone don’t keep animals warm enough and usually end up getting wet. Straw can break down after awhile and can also have bugs that can irritate an animal’s skin.

But back to the water question … whether we are talking about the winter, summer, spring or fall, indoor or outdoor animals, fresh water should always be supplied. Just like humans, animals need water to survive and stay healthy. Many don’t take in enough water because the water in their bowl is stale. Cleaning the water bowl every day to remove saliva and bacteria and filling it with fresh water will encourage your animals to drink more water. Yes, animals who roam around outside will drink from muddy puddles. This is a survival instinct because animals know they need water. However, if we want to keep our animals healthy (which is often not the case for roaming animals) controlling the water our animals drink and making sure it is clean and fresh will avoid the many water-borne illnesses that are out there. Those of you who have had an animal with Giardia (not life-threatening but causes some nasty gastrointestinal problems) know how difficult it can be to overcome. Leptospirosis, although less common, can be life-threatening if not treated immediately. Why take any chances with your animals? Keeping your animals safely at home and giving fresh water every day can help avoid some nasty problems. Regular visits to your veterinarian can make sure that your animal hasn’t picked up any bacteria or parasites, especially if your dog likes to swim.

Cats particularly like fresh water. They often enjoy water that moves. Have you ever seen a cat dip her paw in the water before drinking? That’s to make the water move so she can see where the top of the water is before sticking her face down in the bowl. Cats don’t see well right in front of their face, so it’s tough to discern where the water is located. Some cats won’t risk snorting water accidentally and lick water off their paws instead of putting their head down in the dish. Other cats don’t like their whiskers touching the side of the bowl so they do the dip and lick method. These cats are at risk for not getting enough water and possibly getting a urinary tract infection. A water fountain for animals is a great idea. The flowing water encourages them to drink more. There are several on the market that have filters and now they also offer a bowl in stainless steel which is much easier to clean and keep bacteria away than plastic. If you have a dip and lick kitty and don’t have the money to invest in a water fountain, try putting a few different kinds of dishes around to see if your kitty will drink. There are inexpensive oblong bowls at places that sell kitchenware that are great for accommodating long kitty whiskers.

Fresh water is important for all living creatures. I realize our dogs and cats may lean down and drink out of the toilet bowl, but take the time to consider why. Is it perhaps that it gets flushed and provides cleaner water than their own dishes? My suggestion: keep the lid down on the toilet and fresh water in the animal dishes. Oh, yeah, and please consider bringing Waldo inside. He’ll be ever so grateful, and you will be less likely to play the game of Where’s Waldo if he were to ever escape the yard.