Watch over pets when in the water and outdoors
Blue-green algae are a serious concern for beachgoers and their pets. Also known as Cyanobacteria, blue-green algae are group of photosynthetic bacteria that many people refer to as “pond scum.”
The algae generally grow in lakes, ponds and slow-moving streams, when the water is warm and enriched with nutrients like phosphorus or nitrogen. Most lakes in Wisconsin are not tested for blue-green algae, so people should learn what it looks like and always assess conditions before swimming.
Blue-green algae can have harmful effects on humans and pets. However, because pets love to spend time in water, are not deterred by a little surface scum and often swallow a lot of water while swimming, they can be more vulnerable.
Dogs won’t instinctively know if the water is safe when they jump in, so keep them out of unsafe conditions and prevent them from drinking untreated water. Choose the clearest water possible for dogs to swim in, and keep dogs out of areas with accumulations of blue-green algae or any dense particulate matter.
Specifically, do not let pets swim in, or drink, waters experiencing blue-green algae blooms or noticeably green water.
Keep dogs out of shallow, stagnant waters where blue-green algae may grow on the bottom and be dislodged by disturbance. If people shouldn’t swim there, dogs shouldn’t either. Always offer fresh, clean water for pets to drink, instead of lake water. Dogs should be washed off with clean water immediately after they swim, so they don’t lick any algae from their fur.
Supervise pets when they are outside, so they don’t eat algal scum accumulated on the shore, floating mats of algae or drink lake water.
If pets eat grass, avoid using lake water for lawn irrigation if blooms are present.
Water intoxication (from swallowing too much water) and heat stroke in dogs share the symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and loss of coordination with blue-green algae poisoning. Give dogs plenty of breaks from swimming and retrieving in lakes, avoid having dogs bite at splashed water as a game and use flat objects for retrieval, instead of balls.
