LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Cape Coral water boil alert has been lifted, but people are thinking ahead — wondering what to do if another water boil alert happens again, and what might happen to their animals if they consume the affected water.
We spoke with a veterinarian about E. coli in the water and how it affects pets. Her best advice is to take the same precautions as you would for your own drinking water: either boil the water or provide bottled water for your pets to drink.
Cecilia Fisher, a Veterinarian at Cape Coral Pet Vet, says if your pet drank any contaminated water, to keep an eye on your pet. Fisher said that you should look for signs of your pet vomiting or having an upset stomach.
Some pets can ingest things and see no signs of any problems, but boil water advisories are put in place based on the detection of E. coli.
"It can affect them if it goes into the gastrointestinal tract," Fisher said. "It can irritate the stomach or the intestines; that’s why we see those signs of vomiting and diarrhea."
Fisher said that if any signs of sickness don't go away within 24 hours, you should take your pet to see the vet.
