Blue Green Algae Health Risks Dogs

Symptoms of blue green algae poisoning in dogs include.

Blue green algae health risks dogs.

It looks like dark green blue green black orange or brown scum foam or mats on the riverbed or floating on the water. Likely liver failure was brought on by ingesting water contaminated with toxic blue green algae. 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.

If there s a silver lining in all this it s that blue green algae exposure is not common. 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. However not all types of blue green algae are dangerous. Signs symptoms of blue green algae poisoning if your dog has been exposed to blue green algae symptoms will present anywhere from 15 minutes after exposure to several days later.

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. If blue green algae is ingested it can cause severe neurologic or liver damage. Signs of blue green algae toxicity include. Dogs can develop poisoning when they drink from or even simply swim in contaminated water sources.

Likely liver failure was brought on by. 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. Blooms of blue green algae can produce harmful toxins which stop a dog s liver from functioning properly. At least eight dogs have died after swimming in ponds.

Cyanobacteria can be present in any fresh water body.