Warning issued for dog owners: blue-green algae poisoning

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/dogs-algae-highams-park-lake-chingford-east-london-b1017552.html

'Dog owners have been issued a warning after a number of animals died after drinking water from a “toxic lake” in East London.

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It comes after animal welfare charities warned dog owners of toxic algae building in waterways during the heatwave last month.

Blue Cross charity said blue-green algae can produce harmful toxins which stop a dog’s liver from functioning properly.

The charity said: “Exposure to toxic blue-green algae is often fatal, and can also cause long term health problems in dogs that survive after drinking or swimming in algae-contaminated water.

“Call your vet immediately if you suspect poisoning. Some types of blue-green algae can kill a dog just 15 minutes to an hour after drinking contaminated water.

"Dogs who have been swimming in water can get the algae caught in their fur, and can ingest it while cleaning themselves later on."

Common symptoms of algae consumption include vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures or fitting, unconsciousness, confusion, drooling and breathing difficulties.

“There is no antidote for the toxins produced by the bacteria, but if caught early enough, your vet will likely try to make your dog sick and attempt to flush the toxins from the body before they take hold,” the Blue Cross added.

In the UK, incidents of blue-green algae can be reported to the Environment Agency which has a 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.'