Algae Toxins
What are Algae Toxins?
Algal toxins are naturally produced chemical compounds that sometimes are found inside the cells of certain species of blue-green algae. For most species, these chemicals are not produced all of the time and there is no easy way to tell when the algae are producing them and when they are not. When blue-green algae are growing in the water, they sometimes produce these toxins and store them within the algal cell itself. If a cell is broken open, the toxins may be released. Cells may break open as they decay in the lake, or when swallowed and they are mixed with the digestive acids in the stomach of people and animals.
Does the presence of blue-green algae always mean the water is contaminated?
Many blue-green algae do not produce toxins and while algae blooms may be unsightly, it does not mean the water is contaminated with toxic substances. Simply seeing a bloom will not tell you whether or not algal toxins may be found in the water. The only way to be sure if the toxins are present is to have water samples analyzed in a laboratory using sophisticated equipment.
Can blue-green algae make my pet sick?
Animals will drink the water and are likely to consume large quantities of the algae as well. If the algae are producing toxins at the time the animals ingest them, the animals can become very ill and die.
Signs of algal toxin poisoning may range from general lethargy and loss of appetite to more severe symptoms like seizures, vomiting, and convulsions. Dogs are particularly susceptible to blue-green algal poisoning because scums can attach to their coats and be swallowed during self cleaning. If you suspect that your animals are showing any of these symptoms, you should seek veterinary advice.
Should I let my pets or my livestock drink or swim in water containing algal blooms?
NO! Animals can and do commonly become extremely ill and even die after swallowing water containing blue-green algae. As public awareness has increased, so has the number of reports of veterinarians suggesting that algal toxins have played a role in the deaths of dogs where other causes are not obvious. It is probable that the number of dogs that die from this phenomenon is an underreported statistic.
What are Algae Toxins?
Algal toxins are naturally produced chemical compounds that sometimes are found inside the cells of certain species of blue-green algae. For most species, these chemicals are not produced all of the time and there is no easy way to tell when the algae are producing them and when they are not. When blue-green algae are growing in the water, they sometimes produce these toxins and store them within the algal cell itself. If a cell is broken open, the toxins may be released. Cells may break open as they decay in the lake, or when swallowed and they are mixed with the digestive acids in the stomach of people and animals.
Does the presence of blue-green algae always mean the water is contaminated?
Many blue-green algae do not produce toxins and while algae blooms may be unsightly, it does not mean the water is contaminated with toxic substances. Simply seeing a bloom will not tell you whether or not algal toxins may be found in the water. The only way to be sure if the toxins are present is to have water samples analyzed in a laboratory using sophisticated equipment.
Can blue-green algae make my pet sick?
Animals will drink the water and are likely to consume large quantities of the algae as well. If the algae are producing toxins at the time the animals ingest them, the animals can become very ill and die.
Signs of algal toxin poisoning may range from general lethargy and loss of appetite to more severe symptoms like seizures, vomiting, and convulsions. Dogs are particularly susceptible to blue-green algal poisoning because scums can attach to their coats and be swallowed during self cleaning. If you suspect that your animals are showing any of these symptoms, you should seek veterinary advice.
Should I let my pets or my livestock drink or swim in water containing algal blooms?
NO! Animals can and do commonly become extremely ill and even die after swallowing water containing blue-green algae. As public awareness has increased, so has the number of reports of veterinarians suggesting that algal toxins have played a role in the deaths of dogs where other causes are not obvious. It is probable that the number of dogs that die from this phenomenon is an underreported statistic.