Blue-Green Algae Dangerous to Dogs

Few things are cuter than watching a happy dog splashing around in the water. (After all, it's called the doggy paddle for a reason.) But a hidden danger lurks in many lakes and ponds -- noxious blooms of blue-green algae that can be harmful to people and fatal to dogs.

Officials in Minnesota last month warned residents to keep kids and pets away from suspicious looking lakes after linking the algae to the death of a 3-year-old black lab, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

The blue-green algae thrive in still waters, Matthew Lindon, a pollution control specialist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, tells Paw Nation. These algae occur naturally in many bodies of water, he says, and normally don't cause harm to swimmers, either human or canine. But when nutrients in the lake are rich and temperatures are high, the algae can multiply like gremlins, forming a thick scum on the surface.

These large masses of algae, called harmful algal blooms, sometimes produce dangerous toxins, according to a fact sheet produced by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. After coming into contact with the algae, people or animals might have skin irritation or breathing problems. Dogs and other animals have died after drinking lake water containing the toxins, the Agency reports.

Harmful algal blooms aren't only a problem in the Midwest, Lindon says. He cites reports of algae-linked animal deaths from California to Wisconsin to Maryland.

If your dog vomits or has seizures after swimming in a lake or pond, get it to a vet right away, Lindon tells Paw Nation. The toxins can act quickly, and medical treatment can't always save a dog that has swallowed the toxic algae. For that reason, it's critical to keep pets out of infested waters in the first place.

"Conditions [on lakes] can change rather quickly. If you see green, paint-like water or scummy conditions, keep pets out of the water," Lindon tells Paw Nation. If your dog has been swimming in a suspect lake, make sure to wash him before he can lick himself. "[Dogs] can consume a lot of algae by grooming themselves," Lindon adds.

Harmful algal blooms are mostly a problem in warm weather, Lindon tells Paw Nation. Now that November has arrived, it's much less of a concern. But it never hurts to be vigilant and keep an eye out for pond scum when walking your pup. "People tend to avoid those kinds of waters," Lindon says, "but dogs don't."

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