Portland's boil water alert does not extend to pets.
Oregon's public health veterinarian, Emilio DeBess, said that dog and cat owners do not have to take any extra precautions for their animals. Pets have a high tolerance for bacteria that turn up in fecal matter.
Three separate tests of Portland's water turned up total coliform and E. coli, which indicate the presence of feces, either from animals or humans. Though total coliform and generic E. coli are not infectious, they indicate that harmful pathogens could be in the water.
But animals are exposed to these sorts of pathogens everyday.
"Pets have such a big and ongoing exposure to fecal pathogens that they have the ability to fight them off," DeBess said. "It is not recommended that anyone boil water for their pets."
He said Portland's tap water is even fine for pets that are sick or have compromised immune systems.-- Lynne Terry