WILMINGTON — It’s hot outside and plenty of Wilmington-area pet owners take their four-legged friends to area ponds and lakes to splash and cool down — but that trip to the pond could prove fatal for dogs thanks to a bloom of so-called blue-green algae.
According to an email sent out by a local veterinarian’s office, pets that ingest the algae often face death.
“Please be aware of the current bloom of blue-green algae in our area. Blooms of blue-green algae can be toxic to canines and most often fatal. If you feel your pet has been in contact with blue-green algae please rinse with fresh water and seek veterinary help immediately,” the email reads.
The algae is not actually a type of algae but bacteria known as cyanobacteria.
“They are not actually algae, but the organisms got this name because they often give the appearance of algae when they clump together in bodies of water. The bacteria cannot be seen with the naked eye unless they clump together. When this happens, blue-green algae can look like green flakes, greenish bundles or brown dots in a pond, lake or stream,” according to bluecross.org.
The toxic bacteria is often found in non-flowing freshwater during hot seasons with little rainfall — much like the weather Wilmington has been experiencing recently.
“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,” according to the website.
Pets that have gone for a swim can also trap the algae in their fur and ingest it while cleaning themselves later.
“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
- Diarrhea
- Seizures/fitting
- Weakness/collapse/unconsciousness
- Disorientation/confusion
- Drooling
- Breathing difficulties”
Unfortunately, there is no antidote for the toxins but if caught early on a veterinarian could try and flush the dog’s system before the toxins affect it.
