While I don't want to make you paranoid about allowing your dog to swim in a lake, I do want you to be aware of cyanobacteria dangers; I've seen it up and close. While visiting Madison, WI a few summers ago, I noticed what looked like blue or green iridescent paint on the surface of a lake: blue-green algae. Last year while visiting London, I saw some in the royal ponds, too.

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Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) are microscopic bacteria found in freshwater lakes, streams, ponds and brackish water ecosystems. Blue-green algae grow and colonize into "blooms." While blue-green algae aren't present in all bodies of water, when they are present you'll notice a "pea soup" or blue-green color floating on the surface of the water. Because the algae float, the thick, concentrated mats can be blown by the wind close to shore, making this potentially deadly poison easily accessible to livestock, pets and people.

Most blue-green algae blooms don't produce dangerous toxins, but unfortunately, certain types of blue-green algae can produce toxins; specifically microcystins and anatoxins, which are poisonous to two-legged and four-legged mammals alike. It's impossible to visibly distinguish dangerous algae from benign algae without appropriate testing. Swimming or drinking from water that's been contaminated with blue-green algae can result in severe, acute poisoning. Even small exposures, as little as a few mouthfuls of algae-contaminated water, can potentially result in fatal poisoning.

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Clinical signs of poisoning are dependent on the toxin involved. One type results in liver failure, while the other type results in severe neurologic (central nervous system) signs.

With the blue-green algae that produce microcystins, symptoms include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Not eating
• Black-tarry stool
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Pale gums
• Jaundice (yellow) gums
• Shock
• Death

With the blue-green algae that produce anatoxins, symptoms include:

• Excessive drooling
• Excessive (eye) tearing
• Muscle tremors
• Muscle rigidity
• Inability to walk
• Difficulty breathing or blue gums
• Death

Immediate veterinary intervention is needed with any type of potential poisoning, but in general, once signs of blue-green algae poisoning have developed, the prognosis is very poor. Unfortunately, there is no antidote for the toxins produced by blue-green algae.

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With any poisoning, the sooner you seek treatment the better the prognosis. With blue-green algae, immediate veterinary attention is important. You can also call Pet Poison Helpline for assistance at 855-213-6680.

Better yet, keep your pet away from lake water - particularly if you notice that color. No need to be paranoid, but take a good look around at the lake shore before you and your pet romp in the water!

--Dr. Justine Lee

Blue-Green Algae: Is It Poisonous To Dogs? originally appeared on petMD.com

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Let's get this out of the way first - ringworm (more correctly called dermatophytosis) has nothing to do with worms. It got the name because the raised ring that is a characteristic of the infection in people, but not pets, looks a bit like a worm lodged underneath the skin. Ringworm is a type of fungal infection that most commonly affects the skin, fur and nails of cats, particularly kittens, and less frequently dogs and other species. Cats don't just get the disease more frequently than do other animals, they also shed LARGE numbers of fungal spores when they are infected. So while the ringworm fungus can be found virtually everywhere in our environments, contact with an infected kitten or cat is often responsible for overwhelming a person or pet's natural defenses.

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The most common signs of ringworm infection in cats and dogs are hair loss, itchiness, flaky skin, and brittle or misshapen nails. It is important to note that some cats can be asymptomatic carriers, meaning that while they look perfectly normal themselves, they can be a source of infection for other individuals in the household.

Unfortunately, the symptoms of ringworm fit with just about every dermatological condition we see as veterinarians. The most commonly used diagnostic test involves plucking hairs from affected parts of the body, pushing them into a special type of growth medium, and waiting up to three weeks to see what grows. Some veterinarians will use a black light to identify which parts of the body are potentially harboring ringworm organisms (some types fluoresce), but examination by black light alone cannot definitively diagnose or rule out ringworm. In difficult cases, a skin biopsy might be necessary to reach a definitive diagnosis. Something called a toothbrush test - essentially brushing a pet's fur with a toothbrush and then poking the bristles into a fungal growth medium - is a good way to screen potential asymptomatic carriers.

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If anything, treating ringworm is even more difficult than diagnosing it. Mild to moderate cases may respond to medicated baths, lotions or dips (e.g., lime-sulfur, miconazole, chlorexidine). Shaving pets with long fur can help the medications reach the skin and reduce the number of contagious fungal spores present. In severe cases, oral anti-fungal drugs, such as griseofulvin or itraconazole, are often necessary. For large dogs when cost is a concern, ketoconazole can also be considered. Oral flea preventatives containing lufenuron may also help eliminate ringworm but should not be used alone.

Treatment generally needs to continue for several months and should not be stopped until hair is starting to regrow and fungal cultures are rechecked and found to be negative.

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Because ringworm is so contagious, animals undergoing treatment need to be isolated and owners should decontaminate the parts of the home where infected critters have spent time. Vacuum floors, rugs and upholstery thoroughly, and wash everything possible in hot water and dry on a hot setting. A one part bleach to thirty parts water solution will kill the fungus on hard surfaces that can handle such treatment.

As always, wash your hands thoroughly after handling any pet, especially if it might have ringworm.

Dr. Jennifer Coates

With Kittens Comes Ringworm originally appeared on petMD.com

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Learn more about your dog's behavior:

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To kick-off the plan Wendy Diamond threw a wedding shower in a Manhattan hotel for her treasured little dog and celebrated with 32 guests, both human and four-legged. The group enjoyed sandwiches, cupcakes, tea and champagne. Lucky, who was outfitted in a "frilly pink dress" had fun and didn't give a hint as to the real reason the group had gathered.

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The event officially let the world know that her fight with cancer is coming to an end. After a series of treatments, the dog has three months to a year to live. The search for a new animal to carry on her work for homeless pets is becoming urgent.

"Lucky's entire life has been about bringing awareness to rescue," said Diamond. "We're looking for someone to take over."

Diamond, who is an author and founder and editor of Animal Fair Magazine, is planning an elaborate wedding on July 12 for Lucky and her yet unnamed spouse. The animal advocate says the ideal candidate for the next "most photographed celebrity canine" and partner to Lucky should be "friendly and not camera shy."

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Diamond also said Lucky's spouse-to-be doesn't have to be male or even a dog. She's open to other animals applying for the position, including cats.

Interested pets can apply at Diamond and Lucky's Facebook page, or at their charitable group, animalfair.com. Diamond will pick the winning animal on June 28, two weeks before the wedding.

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Wendy Diamond adopted Lucky in 1999 when she was told that someone was giving up a young white Maltese dog. Having already adopted a Russian Blue from one of New York City's high kill animal shelters, she decided to take Lucky herself, before the little dog ended up at the same shelter.

Diamond told Petside that when she met the dog, she was so hyper and running in circles, she thought sarcastically to herself, 'How lucky am I?' and that's how Lucky got her name. Soon Diamond and Lucky became inseparable.

At the same time, Diamond started Animal Fair Magazine as a way to make animal rescue more glamorous by getting her celebrity pals involved in the cause. One night at a dinner party attended by Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant, Diamond asked Hugh if Lucky could take a picture with him.

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The photo drew lots of attention to Lucky and Diamond's cause and the trend began to have the dog photographed with all sorts of stars. Over the years Lucky has been photographed with celebrities such as: Betty White, Kristen Stewart, President Bill Clinton, Sir Richard Branson, Snoop Dogg, Kim Kardashian, Barbara Walters and many more.

"She's my business partner, my roommate, and my best friend," said Diamond. "We've traveled all over the world together, and she's seen me through my father's death, and my different relationships. She's my family."

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Oh yeah, and the race ... it was a good one. Lots of talented horses, a fast start and early fractions, and then the exciting come from behind win by I'll Have Another (his name a reference to cookies, not booze, his connections claim). The winning jockey, a newcomer named Mario Gutierrez, cried with joy in his post-race interviews. It was a feel-good moment.

Unfortunately, I just don't enjoy horse racing like I used to. In the past, I harbored dreams of having my own little breeding operation where I could watch "my" babies grow up and then play a role in their inevitable triumphs on the track. Then two thoughts brought me back to earth: 1) Unless I was willing to live in a dump and generally be more miserly than I am already, I was never going to have the cash reserves necessary for this endeavor (these days any extra money we have goes into my daughter's college fund, where it will undoubtedly be put to much better use), and 2) I don't think I could stand losing one of my horses to an injury sustained during a race that I entered it in.

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My primary feeling when I catch the rare race on TV these days is trepidation. The horses are still spellbinding in their beauty and athleticism, but my joy in watching them run has been tempered with worry for their well-being. A study that was published in 2011 showed that thoroughbreds and quarter horses racing at three Midwestern racetracks sustained catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries (i.e., broke down and had to be euthanized) at a rate of 1.46 per 1,000 starts. To put it another way, if a typical race day included ten races with ten starters each, at each of these three tracks, 1.46 horses would die from musculoskeletal injuries sustained during racing alone every 3.3 days.

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Granted, the superstars that run on the first Saturday in May have led the good life during their three short years of existence, but all that could change with even a non life-threatening injury or a string of losses. I can't watch even the most pampered of thoroughbreds without thinking about all the horses that run on the smaller tracks around the country and the hard lives they lead and the uncertain futures that await them.


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So, I'll probably continue to catch the occasional big race on TV when my schedule permits, but as for taking a more active role in horse racing - either as a bettor or a potential breeder/owner - I'll have to pass for now. Racing is making some strides in advancing the welfare of their equine athletes (synthetic tracks, charities and sanctuaries dedicated to retired racers, etc.), but they still have a long way to go.

--Dr. Jennifer Coates

Does Horse Racing Deserve Your Support? originally appeared on petMD.com

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"My children are grown now and having dogs around keeps me 'still a mom' in many respects," Buscombe said in an email interview. "I always feel a lot better - like all of my problems have lessened - because I have spent times with my dogs."

The loving link between baby boomers like 49-year-old Buscombe and their pets is well documented. Boomers - typically defined as the generation born from 1946 through 1964 - are a major reason why Americans' spending on the likes of food, grooming, kennels, surgery, even souvenirs, is expected to top $52 billion this year.

"Boomers are different, for the most part," said Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association. "What did they call us? Helicopter parents, because we were constantly hovering over the kids. The kids left home and now we're looking to hover over something else. And so we wind up doing it over pets."

But will the beautiful relationship last?

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Pet ownership rates tend to drop among people in their golden years. And boomers are starting to hit retirement age, with the oldest boomers turning 66 this year. The pet industry is already looking years ahead to when aging boomers eventually could be tempted - or forced - to give up high-maintenance dogs and cats because of fixed incomes, smaller homes or physical limitations. Routine veterinarian care alone can run $248 a year for a dog, according to an industry survey.

"I'm in a bit of a conundrum. I want to own a dog until the day I die, but it haunts me to think of dying and leaving a dog I've bonded with without a best friend," said Mike Lewis of Anchorage, Alaska.

At 55, Lewis is healthy, but he is thinking ahead. Lewis and his wife have three dogs now, but he says given his age, he probably has bought his last puppy. If he gets another new dog, it will be an older rescue.

It's estimated that about 73 million American households keep pets. A report last month from the market research company Packaged Facts found that the generation after the boomers, Gen X, actually has higher pet ownership rates. But the spending habits of boomers - a generation that represents about a quarter of the population - is significant. And boomers do spend a lot, particularly "empty nesters" with children gone from the home, Vetere said.

Boomers - with their desire for flexibility and mobility - are sinking money into products and services previous generations never considered, like automatic feeding devices and litter boxes or pet-sitting services, Vetere said. They often treat their pets like humans, purchasing gluten-free dog food and heated kitty beds. The Nielsen Co. reported in 2010 that boomer households spent $211 a year on pet food, more than any other age group.

In suburban Detroit, Donna Blain has purchased comfy beds for her Yorkshire terrier-Pomeranian mix, Lola, as well as a wicker bike basket with a cage on the top and about 20 dresses.

"Lola likes the attention. Believe me, she likes going anywhere," said Blain, 56. "Does she like getting dressed up? Probably not."

Packaged Facts in its report noted that "pet product makers cannot afford to take Boomers for granted."

Already, the industry is promoting the benefits of pets for older people. The pet association is a founding sponsor (along with Petco and Pfizer Animal Health) of the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the positive role animals play in people's health.

The group's website touts the role animals have in lowering blood pressure and reducing anxiety.

The pets-have-a-benefit message applies to people of all ages, but the argument might strike a deep chord with older people.

"For us, they bring a really a tremendous amount of joy, you know, because after your kids are gone your house is kind of empty and they're just a lot of fun, good company," said 70-year-old Phyllis Singler, of Philadelphia. She and her 61-year-old husband lead an active retirement with boating and trips to Florida and Europe.

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The couple owns two biewers, Natty and Gio, that go almost everywhere they do. And when they can't, they hire a sitter. There's a provision in their will to set aside money so their children can care for the dogs, if need be.

Some researchers caution that the good of pet ownership has to be weighed against the bad. Hal Herzog, a professor of psychology at Western Carolina University, said there are so many studies on the "pet effect" with conflicting results that it remains an "uncorroborated hypothesis." Herzog, author of "Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat" noted, for instance, that the Centers for Disease Control estimated there are almost 87,000 falling injuries each year related to cats and dogs.

"The pet industry has really pushed the idea that pets are good for people and they've ignored the substantial literature showing there's no effect or there's a deleterious effect," Herzog said.

Herzog said pets can have a positive affect - he thinks his cat has a positive effect on him - but that the health benefits have been oversold.

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"I don't see that as being even close to a trade off," he said.

Written by Michael Hill
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press

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For both pets and their owners, getting organized is essential to health and well-being. A de-cluttering strategy will help to keep a pet happy and healthy -- and a pet parent sane.

As the owner of recently adopted terrier mix, Cecil Armstrong noticed that in less than a month, his home had become messy. However, he wants to maintain a pet-friendly but clean home.

"Lola is family. Like my friends with children, I now have toys, pet clothing and other items scattered throughout my home," said Armstrong.

Owner of Organizing Goddess, Inc. and president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Sharon Lowenheim, MBA, MSE recommends that in order for owners like Armstrong to eliminate the pet clutter, they should find a place for everything.


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Like Armstrong, Karla Johnston needed to tackle her pet organizational problems. She was tired of coming home from work and becoming frustrated because she could not find her dog′s walking gear. Her solution was to transform a hanging pocket shoe organizer into a pet organizer.

"The organizer can be hung on the back of an apartment front door, inside a closet or on a wall so that toys, leashes, and grooming supplies can easily become accessible and orderly, fitting neatly into the various sized pockets," she explained. "Best part, an organizer can be purchased for less than $20.00."

"Although it is important to store items where you use them, another organization strategy is to store like items together," recommends Organizing Goddess Lowenheim.

For toys around the house, Johnson uses a clear, storage crate with wheels as a pet toy box. She found the ideal storage item at IKEA for $5.99, and the matching lid is $1.50. "The top, curved edge serves as a handle, which makes the storage crate easy to lift and carry. When guests come, I push the wheeled crate into the closet."

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Generally, she leaves the crate uncovered so that her dog, Abby, can easily pick out the toys that she wants to play with.

Pet industry experts agree that other than pet food storage containers, few pet organizational products currently exist on the market. According to AllExperts, dog owners have to be resourceful and improvise when dealing with pet storage issues.

Cronk encourages her clients to use a children′s art caddy, which can be purchased for about $6.95, to store grooming products. "Use the smaller compartments for combs, brushes, nail clippers, and scissors, and the larger one to hold store bottles of shampoo and conditioner," says Cronk.

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Other than grooming tools, pet apparel can be stored in a method similar to that for human clothing. Prior to storing sweaters and coats, these items "should be cleaned and placed in a canvas bag [about $14.99] to keep them dust-free," says Lowenheim. To prevent moths or other insects, cedar blocks or balls should also be placed in the storage containers.

With helpful organization tips and product suggestions, pet owners like Cecil Armstrong -- and you -- can develop and maintain a pet organizational strategy for the new year and beyond.

What tips do you have for keeping households with pets organized? Share them below!

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Two months ago, a one-year-old Humboldt penguin scaled a 13-foot rock wall, squeezed through barbed wire and literally flew the coop from its harborside aquarium in the Tokyo Sea Life Park. Due to its youthful age, the penguin's gender had not yet been determined and keepers have been referring to him or her as "Penguin 337."

The Guardian reports that video footage has shown the penguin "frolicking," and apparently in good health, in a different part of Tokyo Bay:

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"You can see it's got the same ring around its flipper and identical facial patterns," said Kazuhiro Sakamoto, deputy director of the Tokyo Sea Life Park, when shown footage of the escapee taken by Japan's coastguard.

"It didn't look like it had got thinner over the past two months, or been without food. It didn't seem to be any weaker. So it looks as if it has been living quite happily in the middle of Tokyo Bay."

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After discovering back in March that Penguin 337 had gone missing from its enclosure with some 135 other penguins, the aquarium sent keepers out daily to hunt for the escapee; they also sent out an appeal to Tokyo residents. Hundreds of people reported sightings but Sakamoto said that most of them were probably of cormorants.

Tokyo aquarium staff say that the penguin has most likely been "gorging on small fish in the bay during daylight hours and returning to the shore at night to rest."

Tokyo Bay is not the most pleasant place to spend one's days. Tokyo itself is crowded and densely populated and some have expressed worries about how dirty the bay's water is, and of the possibility of radiation.

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With all the hazards of survival in an urban setting, Penguin 337 seems to be finding life beyond the aquarium and the barbed wire to be all right. Sakamoto attributed his or her flight to a "sense of adventure" - Penguin 337 is surely getting a full taste of life on the run and back in the wild (if you can call Tokyo's urban environs such).

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And now the irrepressible Border Collie/Bichon Frise/Chinese Crested cross, along with his young owner, has become a national sensation after delighting both audiences and the judges on the ITV show.

The teenager from Northampton will get the chance to perform with her pet at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.

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"First of all I will get Pudsey a new lead because we actually lost his backstage," she said. "I'll get him a bed too or whatever he wants."

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