[NAGDU] FW: [GDUI Chat] Please read: FW: [seeing-eye] More on toxic algae

Tue Aug 13 20:28:00 UTC 2019

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Crawford [mailto:ccrawford at rcn.com] 
Sent: August-13-19 3:05 PM
To: chat at guidedogusersinc.org
Subject: [GDUI Chat] Please read: FW: [seeing-eye] More on toxic algae

Hi GDUI Chat folks,

I saw this and ask that we all read it and make sure we are aware of what is going on both for ourselves and our Dogs.

Charlie Crawford and my little Razen in  the sun.

From: seeing-eye at googlegroups.com [mailto:seeing-eye at googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Rebecca Lineberger
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2019 8:39 PM
To: Seeing-Eye Discussions
Subject: [seeing-eye] More on toxic algae

How to spot the toxic algae that's killing dogs in the Southeast

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/08/12/health/toxic-algae-dog-deaths-trnd/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2F

By 

Susan Scutti,

CNN

Updated at1:20 PM ET, Mon August 12, 2019

(CNN) —Dog owners in the Southeast are spreading the word about the dangers of contaminated water following the deaths of their beloved pets.

In Wilmington, North Carolina, 

three dogs died 

after frolicking in a pond, while another succumbed after a swim in 

Lake Allatoona, Georgia.

A common enemy likely led to the deaths of all four dogs: liver failure brought on by ingesting water contaminated with toxic blue-green algae.

These pets died in the same region, but toxic algae can be found all over the United States -- so dog owners throughout the nation need to be on the lookout.

What is toxic algae?

Algae occurs naturally in water, but the blue-green variety are considered Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria,

are "primitive," photosynthetic organisms that can feed off the sun to make their own energy and release oxygen and possibly toxins in the process, said

David G. Schmale III, 

a professor at Virginia Tech.

Some species produce potent toxins that can sicken or even kill people, pets and wildlife, according to the 

US Environmental Protection Agency.

Blue-green algae and other HABs can produce different types of poisons, some that affect the liver, others the brain.

Schmale said he hasn't seen a coroner's report to verify the causes of death, still he speculates the dogs were thirsty and the water contaminated. "Samples

of the water where the dogs were likely exposed will need to be tested" for toxins and bacteria to verify this, though, he said.

Where do these algae grow?

Harmful algae can bloom in both fresh and marine water. They've been observed in large freshwater lakes, smaller inland lakes, rivers, reservoirs and marine

coastal areas and estuaries in all 50 states, according to Schmale.

Toxic algae can also grow in decorative ponds as well as backyard pools, providing homeowners with a good reason to properly sanitize swimming water.

What do toxic algae look like?

Toxic algae can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of water, said Schmale. Harmful algae blooms, which can be blue, vibrant green, brown or red,

are sometimes mistaken for paint floating on the water.

Toxic algae often stink, sometimes producing a downright nauseating smell, yet animals may be attracted to the smell and taste of them, according to the

EPA.

How do I know if my dog has been exposed?

Symptoms,

which usually arise anywhere from 15 minutes to several days after exposure, include diarrhea or vomiting, weakness or staggering, drooling, difficulty

breathing and convulsions or seizures, the EPA reports.

Immediately, take your pet to the vet if you see these symptoms.

Dogs, more than other pets, are especially vulnerable because of their tendency to play in water and so sometimes they drink the toxic algae, other times

they lick it off their fur. Even dogs that avoid the water may be in danger. Many dogs like to scavenge the shore where they may find -- and eat -- drying

clumps of algae.

One 

study 

identified 368 cases of toxic algae poisoning associated with dogs throughout the US over a nine-decade period, but the researchers believe this represents

only "a small fraction of cases that occur throughout the US each year."

How do I keep my dog safe?

If you spot the algae, leave the area and don't let your dog drink or swim in the water. If your dog has already gotten into a harmful bloom, rinse your

pet off immediately in fresh, clean water. Remember to wear gloves to protect yourself. And, if you know you've been in contact with the bloom, immediately

wash with soap and water.

Can I be harmed by the algae?

When high concentrations of these cyanotoxins are consumed, they can poison not only domestic animals but also humans, said Schmale. Contact with toxic

algae can cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

A mind is like a parachute.  It doesn't work if it isn't open.

-- 
The Seeing Eye
Independence with Dignity since 1929

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