Blue Green Algae Health Risks Dogs

A 2013 study found 368 documented cases of dogs who died from toxic blue green algae between the 1920s and 2012 but the increasing incidence of the blue green algae in local ponds suggests greater vigilance is called for.

Blue green algae health risks dogs.

Dog owners in the southeast are spreading the word about the dangers of contaminated water following the deaths of their beloved pets. The prognosis of blue green algae poisoning unfortunately with blue green algae the prognosis is very poor and some dogs actually pass away before being able to get to a veterinarian. For this reason if you suspect that your dog was exposed to blue green algae get to a veterinarian immediately. Symptoms of blue green algae poisoning in dogs both toxins can cause symptoms in your dog and in as little as 30 to 60 minutes after your dog is exposed to the toxins.

If blue green algae is ingested it can cause severe neurologic or liver damage. Dogs can develop poisoning when they drink from or even simply swim in contaminated water sources. Likely liver failure was brought on by ingesting water contaminated with toxic blue green algae. Blooms of blue green algae can produce harmful toxins which stop a dog s liver from functioning properly.

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. Likely liver failure was brought on by. Symptoms associated with microcystins may take up to 12 to 24 hours to appear but it s still critical to take your dog to a vet as soon as possible. Cyanobacteria can be present in any fresh water body.

Dogs and children are most likely to be affected because of their smaller body size and tendency to stay in the water for longer periods of time. Signs of blue green algae toxicity include. It looks like dark green blue green black orange or brown scum foam or mats on the riverbed or floating on the water. Symptoms of blue green algae poisoning in dogs include.

At least eight dogs have died after swimming in ponds.