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Why is blue-green algae dangerous to dogs?
The toxins which may be produced by blue-green algae can be poisonous to animals and can cause severe illness and death, reports Public Health Wales.
Dogs can develop poisoning when they drink from such water, or lick themselves after swimming in it, and this in turn has a toxic effect on the stomach and internal organs - which could prove fatal.
Animal welfare charity, Blue Cross, has warned dog owners against walking their pets near to bodies of water confirmed to have blue-green algae.
A statement on their website read: "Blooms of blue-green algae can produce harmful toxins which stop a dog’s liver from functioning properly. However, not all types of blue-green algae are dangerous.
"Sadly, exposure to toxic blue-green algae is often fatal, and can also cause long term health problems in dogs that survive after drinking or swimming in algae-contaminated water.
"Some types of blue-green algae can kill a dog just 15 minutes to an hour after drinking contaminated water.
"Dogs who have been swimming in water can get the algae caught in their fur, and can ingest it while cleaning themselves later on.
"Concentrations of the algae vary throughout the year and may not always be harmful - but you can’t tell simply by looking at them whether or not they are dangerous, so it is best not to run the risk of allowing your dog to come into contact with water where the algae may be present."
The symptoms of blue-green algae toxicity in dogs
If your dog shows any of the following signs after drinking from, or swimming or paddling in water, contact your vet immediately and tell them you are concerned about blue-green algae:
- Vomiting/being sick
- Breathing difficulties
There is no antidote for the toxins produced by the bacteria, but if caught early enough, your vet will likely try to make your dog sick and attempt to flush the toxins from the body before they take hold.
How to protect your dog
Sadly, blue-green algae poisoning often eventually causes fatal liver failure.
Keep your dog away from lakes and ponds that you know, or suspect may, contain blue-green algae.
Dogs should not be allowed to swim or paddle in water that contains blue-green algae.
Don’t let dogs drink from water that may have blue-green algae in. Because the wind often blows blooms of algae to the edges of ponds or lakes, higher concentrations of the toxin are more likely to be present in the parts of the water your dog may drink from.
Take note of signs warning of the algae during dog walks and follow the information given.
What to do if you spot blue-green algae
*If you think you have spotted blue-green algae in water and cannot see any signage, report it to Natural Resources Wales on their incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60 (24 hours).
A spokesman for NRW said: "We ask people and authorities to report algal blooms, including blue green algae, to us via our incidents hotline.
"Our responsibility is to investigate and take samples to test for any algal presence.
"If our tests confirm blue green algae, we can advise on how to manage the problem and advise the land owner or local authority to erect warning signs and notify the appropriate people.
"We would do the same for any waterbody we’re responsible for."