Mandie chases her tennis ball into clear waters on Summit Lake.
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Dogs are endangered by lake algae Sept. 1, 2009 It’s rare, but possible that that blue-green scum common on northwoods lakes could be harboring a killer.
The Rhinelander Daily News reported Monday that a dog in Oneida County probably died from the effects of swimming in water filled with blue-green algae, a toxic poison that sickens—or kills—canines with alarming speed.
“This is really rare,” Dr. Richard Piwoni of the Antigo Veterinary Clinic, said. “It is something that is very difficult to diagnosis unless you have some supportive information, such as seeing algae hanging on the dog or having samples of the water.”
The Oneida County incident dates to mid-August, when a three-year-old rat terrier collapsed after swimming in Lake Tomahawk, where an algae bloom may have been present.
The dog was treated by Rhinelander veterinarian Dr. Ron Reupert.
“Your suspicion goes up when the dog has been in the water and then in an hour it collapses,” Reupert told the Daily News.
Despite treatment, the dog died. Reupert said he was confident that algae was the culprit and reported the death to the Department of Natural Resources, which has been conducting a follow-up investigation.
“The way this played out is that (the owner) ended up taking his dog to the vet on Friday and the vet called the DNR on Monday and his professional opinion was it was blue-green algae but there was no autopsy,” Jim Kreitlow, a water resources specialist with the DNR in Rhinelander, said.
Kreitlow took samples of water from the area where the dog had been swimming, and testing did not reveal toxic cell counts consistent with a dangerous algae bloom.
But that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, he stressed, only that it is very difficult to predict and monitor. Not all blue-green algae produce toxins and a wide variety of factors come into play including the amount of agricultural runoff and the type of lake involved. Kreitlow said it appears to be more of a problem in drainage lakes than seepage lakes.
At the Antigo Veterinary Clinic, Piwoni said his concerns over possible toxic algae blooms were higher in July, where drought created stagnant bodies of water, than now, after recent rains.
Piwoni also noted that not all algae blooms are toxic.
“Only certain types of these seem to be indicated,” he said.
According to the DNR, blue-green algaes are a rare group of photosynthetic bacteria commonly known as “pond scum” and grows in lakes, ponds and slow-moving streams where the water is warm and enriched with nutrients. When conditions are optimal, the algae can grow very quickly and form floating mats of scum.
The real problem arises when the naturally-produced toxins sometimes found in the algae are released, something that is difficult to predict.
The DNR advises people not to swim in lakes where blue-green algae is present, not a difficult prospect since the water is generally unappealing.
But that same water can draw pets like a magnet and if they consume large quantity of the algae at a time when toxins are being produced the effects can be severe.
Dogs are particularly susceptible because, in addition to drinking the water, scums can attach to their coats and be swallowed when they lick themselves clean.
The DNR recommends a common-sense approach. If a scum layer or floating mat is present, do not let people or pets swim in the water, advice that Piwoni echoed.
“Try to keep your pets out of the lakes, especially if they are really green,” Piwoni said.
And he urged pet owners to provide alternate water sources as well, since drinking is where most of the problems occur.
In Rhinelander, Reupert also agreed.
“I don’t keep my dog out of the lake, but I do take note of which way the wind is blowing and the color of the water,” he said.
If a pet owner suspects their animal has ingested possible toxic algae, an immediate trip to the vet is advised. Piwoni said a concerned owner may also want to treat their dog with activated charcoal, which will help absorb any toxins present in their body. It is available at area pet and livestock supply stores.
The veterinarians and DNR officials all stressed the uncommon nature of the problem.
“Overall, people need to be aware of the problem, but is it a huge problem?” Kreitlow asked. “I would say it is not.”
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