Don't let dogs bathe in colored water - they drink it!
There can be many causes of vomiting and diarrhea in animals. One of the causes that is not so well known is blue-green algae which lives in lakes, brackish water and seawater that the dog ingests by swimming or drinking the water. Right now there is much more blue-green algae than normal due to the heat wave in Eastern Norway this summer.
Table of contents
What are blue-green algae?
Blue-green algae – despite their name – are not actually algae, but bacteria that produce cyanotoxins – a toxin that can cause symptoms in both animals and humans. These blue-green algae are naturally found in soil, air and water – but they also have the ability to bloom in rivers, lakes and oceans. It is important to be aware of blue-green algae and their potential health effects when traveling near bodies of water where they may be present.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms depend on how much and what type of algae toxins/algae bacteria the dog has ingested. Small dogs often experience more pronounced symptoms than large dogs.
General restlessness and tremors are the symptoms that most often first appear when a dog has ingested water with algae toxins. Some toxins can be very irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.
Symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea – sometimes with a little blood – can occur quickly after algae poisoning.
Other symptoms may include pale mucous membranes, weakness, difficulty breathing, and poor coordination that may progress to convulsions. Dogs exposed to large amounts of toxic algae may show symptoms as early as 15–60 minutes after ingestion or bathing.
Can cats also be poisoned?
Cats are usually not poisoned because they rarely bathe and thus avoid drinking algae water.
What can you do yourself?
The most important thing is that you get to the vet for treatment as soon as possible.
What does the vet do?
Prompt treatment at the vet is necessary and includes removing the algae from the skin by rinsing or bathing. If the dog has drunk water with toxic algae, the vet may induce vomiting.
Other treatment is intravenous fluid therapy to maintain circulation and blood pressure – and to prevent the possible development of shock. If the dog has seizures, anticonvulsant medications are given directly into the blood. Blood samples are analyzed to obtain a status of the internal organs – primarily the liver and kidneys.
Finishing
Liver function may be impaired after algae poisoning. It is usually recommended to check the liver after a week with a new blood test. Until the check-up, the dog should avoid exercise and training.
If the dog has survived the acute crisis following algae poisoning, the prognosis for a full recovery is good.
Wondering if you can swim yourself? Avoid it if you see such colored bands, flakes, lumps or foam. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, to be completely safe in a lake, you should be able to see the bottom at a depth of 1 meter.
