|
|
A blue-green algal bloom like this one may be a toxic bloom, but there is no way to tell for sure by looking.
Are there blue-green algal blooms in your community? Could any of these blue-green algal blooms be a toxic bloom that could endanger your pet?
Today, the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management jointly issued a warning about the potentially toxic effects of blue-green algal blooms. This is likely not a danger that is only threatening Rhode Island and it is one that every pet owner needs to be aware of, particularly if your pet goes swimming or is allowed to drink from lakes and similar outdoor bodies of water.
What Is Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) and How Does It Cause a Toxic Bloom?
Blue-green algae are small microscopic organisms that are found in pretty much all naturally occurring bodies of water. They are also known as cyanobacteria.
These blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, rely on sunlight to grow and reproduce. In warm stagnant water that is nutrient rich, they can quickly grow into what is known as a bloom.
As these algae grow and reproduce, they sometimes release toxins into the water that can be quite dangerous for any human or pet who consumes the water. This is known as a toxic bloom. These toxic blooms are more likely to happen in the warmer weather of the spring, summer or fall.
More information about toxic blue-green algal blooms is available on the CDC (Center for Disease Control) website.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Pet From Toxic Blue-Green Algal Blooms
The RI Department of Health and Department of Environmental Management recommends the following health and safety tips for your pets (and your livestock.)
- Do not let your pets or livestock graze near, drink or swim in water where you see blue-green algal blooms, foam or scum on the surface.
- If your pet gets in water with a bloom, immediately wash it off with clean water. Do not let the animal lick algae off of its fur.
- Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet shows signs of blue-green algae poisoning. Signs include loss of energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, stumbling and falling, foaming at the mouth, diarrhea, convulsions, excessive drooling, tremors and seizures.
Even though you and your pet may never run into this problem, it is important for any pet owner to recognize the danger of toxic blue-green algal blooms if your pet goes outdoors.
Photo Courtesy of Soil Science/Flickr.com
About Lorie Huston, DVM
Lorie Huston is a veterinarian, pet health and pet care expert, professional writer, blogger, social media and blogging consultant, and SEO strategist.
If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to grab our RSS feed or subscribe by email to receive notifications when new content is added.
