Water bowls and drinkers that aren’t regularly scrubbed often develop bad-tasting biofilm that discourages drinking. Biofilms are part of the normal complement of microbes in many healthy animals. However, biofilms can be very harmful making them important to remove.
The CDC estimates that up to 70 percent of human bacterial infections in the Western world are caused by biofilms. These two articles reinforce the importance of keeping water sources clean for poultry and for pets.
The bacteria within a biofilm are up to 1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants than bacteria found outside a biofilm.”
Sources:
- Biofilms and how they affect dogs and cats, Animal Wellness, July 3, 2023. Link.
- Keep biofilm out of the flock’s drinking water, Backyard Poultry, May 6, 2021. Link.
Good cleaning practices can help eliminate biofilm formation. Just killing microorganisms without removing the biofilm structure can result in rapid recolonization of organisms within the remaining matrix.”