Warning for Water Loving Doodles!!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

BEWARE THE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE!
As summer temperatures continue toward their peak, many pet owners will take their pets to cool off in local lakes, ponds, and rivers. These owners could be unknowingly exposing their pets to the potentially harmful effects of toxins often contained in blue-green algae.
Several states have already issued warnings this year about the presence of blue-green algae in bodies of fresh water. In fact, some experts are predicting that the blue-green algae problem at Lake Erie will be the worst ever in 2013.
Animal contact is a lot more likely than human contact since a dog would gladly swim in or drink from a water source that a human would avoid.  This is why it is so important to inform you of the risk to your pets.  If a diagnosis of blue-green algae toxicity is diagnosed, be sure that finding is reported.  This will help mitigate the risk to other dogs and potentially people, as the contaminated water can be treated.
Symptoms of blue-green algae toxicity
According to Pet Poison Helpline, common symptoms of blue-green algae toxicity include:
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Blood in stool or black, tarry stool
• Pale mucous membranes
• Jaundice
• Seizures
• Disorientation
• Coma
• Shock
• Excessive secretions (e.g., salivation)
• Neurologic signs (including muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, paralysis)
• Blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes
• Difficulty breathing
• Death

[Leslie and Halas]

Thanks for the warning!  Halas has been playing in a creek a lot lately, so I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this algae.  I looked up some pictures, and I think we see mostly green algae or moss, not blue-green algae, but I try to keep him away from that type of stuff anyway.

[Deborah Brown]

Is there a geographic area where this is prevalent?  I did not know about this before your post.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's pretty prevalent all over the country from what I read. A search borught up government articles in Wisconsin, Vermont and the Carolinas, just on the first page. It's cyanobacteria that's the problem. Here's the CDC info:

 http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cyanobacteria/pdfs/facts.pdf

[Deborah Brown]

I did a search too and found this website with pictures of what it looks like.  This was a big help to me.

http://www.epa.state.il.us/water/surface-water/blue-green-algae.html

 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Best information is not to let your dog swim in any water you would not swim in.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Like:)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Wow! I had no idea about this.  Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Thanks for sharing Tina-my doodles are NOT water lovers but so many others are.

[Samantha and Socrates]

Thanks for the warning! We take Socs to a nearby cold, fast-running trout stream - so I'm assuming nothing grows there? Do you need to see the algae for it to be present/harmful?