Coastal water blooms in general, especially those by blue-green algae, which are cyanacteria, present potential dangers to dogs.
These blooms are observed in water bodies that may be warm and stagnant, such as lakes, ponds, or slow-moving rivers, most particularly during the summer. Not all algal blooms are bad; however, some of them are toxic to dogs and pose a serious threat to their lives.
Notably, even in cases where the contamination is moderate to severe and potentially fatal, a small amount can have detrimental effects on cats’ health when they drink water shared with other cats, lick their fur after swimming, or wade in the water.
Signs and Symptoms to Look Out for: Dogs exposed to toxic algae may experience vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, breathing difficulties, muscle weakness, seizures, and in rare cases, abrupt death. These signs may take minutes to hours to manifest; hence, seeking veterinary care is vital if you think your canine has been poisoned.
Preventing Exposure: Never let your dog swim in the water or drink water that has that green or scum or cloud-like formation on the water surface or any water body that posts such signs.
It is recommended that after the dog has bathed or swam, you rinse the dog with clean water. You should also ensure that you provide your dog with clean water throughout the journey to avoid it drinking dirty water from the sources that it may come across.
Staying informed: Be aware of the local water quality, especially during the period of active swimming, preferably in the hot season. Some regions might have special warnings or recommendations concerning algal blooms. It is safer for your dog to swim elsewhere if you are in doubt about the safety of a body of water.
While swimming is a fun activity for your dogs, they are at a risk of getting ill or even dying due to toxic algae blooms if not informed of the same risk factors; thus, there is a need to vigilantly monitor their swimming activities and environments.
ASH CK