Can four legged animals drink from beneath their feet?

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In summary, four-legged animals can drink from beneath their feet, primarily due to their ability to lower their heads and use their long necks or flexible tongues to reach water sources on the ground. However, the mechanics of drinking vary among species, with some animals adapting unique methods to access water efficiently.
  • #1
Brucester
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In this BBC video about the Azores Dr. Felix Rodrigues tells us four legged animals can't drink from beneath their feet. I've never heard of this before and couldn't find anything about it. Does anyone know about this and/or where I can find out more about it? Google didn't help.

 
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  • #2
Seems wrong since I have seen videos of animals doing this.
It seems common for people to see some animal doing or not doing something and then wrongly extrapolate that to lots of other animals.
 
  • #3
Brucester said:
four legged animals can't drink from beneath their feet.
Is this came from the same mold as the good old 'you can't pee in a handstand'?
 
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  • #4
BillTre said:
Seems wrong since I have seen videos of animals doing this.
It seems common for people to see some animal doing or not doing something and then wrongly extrapolate that to lots of other animals.
Dr. Felix Rodrigues is a faculty member of the Department of Agrarian Sciences and Environment, University of Azores so one expects this to be an informed claim. Post one of those videos.
 
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  • #5
Unless they are standing in water, it will be below their feet, and from what I have seen, they can stop at the water’s edge and drink.
 
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While standing with a 'normal' stance, most animals have much difficulty to stretch their necks down far enough so that the 'lips' of their mouth reach below their feet. A grazing animal such as a cow can easily reach down to crop off grasses; to drink they need to get their snout farther down to suck up the water.
It's not that they can't drink water below their feet - it is that they can do so by either standing in the water ( in which case the water surface is above their feet ), or by assuming an odd looking and difficult front leg spread stance at the water edge so as to lower their shoulder height. The ground has to be accommodating for the grazing animal to assume such a stance. A hard rock surface ( as seen in the video ) is not accommodating as the animal can topple over from the feet ( hooves ) having little grip to keep them from spreading. Painful and dangerous ( break a leg ) for the hoofed animal.
A lion may lie down at the water edge to lap up the water.
Same for a dog.
Still, if the water is much below the ground surface, they too may be out of luck to get a drink.
As would you.
 
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256bits said:
an odd looking and difficult front leg spread stance
They just kneel, if they have to.
 
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  • #8
I was going to add in the kneel, but neglected to do so.
256bits said:
It's not that they can't drink water below their feet
 
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Screenshot 2024-04-15 at 8.11.24 AM.png
 
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  • #10
But, why would they? "Can't" and "hasn't been observed" are two different things. Animals in the wild tend not to do circus tricks, they drink the easiest way.

BTW, my dog will sometimes drink water from a bowl in the back seat of my car by lying down, putting her front feet out on the sides of the bowl and drink. It's both behind and below her front paws. Does that count?
 
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Screenshot 2024-04-15 at 2.31.50 PM.png
 
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FAQ: Can four legged animals drink from beneath their feet?

1. Can four-legged animals drink water from puddles or streams by bending down?

Yes, four-legged animals can drink water from puddles or streams by bending down. They typically use their tongues to lap up water, which allows them to drink efficiently from various sources.

2. How do four-legged animals manage to drink without drowning?

Four-legged animals have evolved specific drinking techniques that prevent them from drowning. For example, they can curl their tongues backward to create a scooping motion that draws water into their mouths while keeping their snouts above the water level.

3. Do all four-legged animals drink in the same way?

No, not all four-legged animals drink in the same way. Different species have adapted unique methods based on their anatomy and environment. For instance, dogs and cats lap water, while larger animals like horses may use a different technique that involves more of a bending motion.

4. Are there any health risks for four-legged animals drinking from stagnant water?

Yes, there can be health risks associated with drinking from stagnant water. Such water sources may harbor harmful bacteria, parasites, or pollutants that can lead to gastrointestinal issues or other health problems in animals.

5. Can four-legged animals drink while walking or running?

While it is possible for some four-legged animals to drink while in motion, it is generally more difficult. Most prefer to stop and bend down to drink, as this allows for better control and efficiency in lapping up water.

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