THE DANGER OF ALGAE

When the water temperature in freshwater bodies reaches 18°C (64°F), water blooming begins. Blue-green algae appear — which are actually cyanobacteria. Due to their toxicity, swimming in such water becomes not only unpleasant but also dangerous. These substances pose a threat to both people and their pets. Different types of toxins affect the body’s organs and systems in different ways:

• Hepatotoxins — cause poisoning with symptoms such as weakness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. They can also trigger inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, destroy beneficial gut microflora, damage the liver, and may lead to oncological changes in this organ.
• Neurotoxins — disrupt the nervous system, causing symptoms ranging from lethargy and depression to seizures, difficulty breathing, and even paralysis.
• Dermatotoxins — lead to skin redness, dermatitis, and tumors.

What may seem like harmless swimming in contaminated water can end in a pet’s death. To prevent this, we recommend following these rules:

• Do not allow your pet to enter blooming water.
• Make sure your pet does not drink the water or eat fish or shellfish from such bodies of water.
• Maintain and clean swimming pools regularly.

If contact with blooming water could not be avoided and symptoms of poisoning, neurological disorders, or skin deterioration appear, bring your pet for examination to Veterinary Hospital Animal Clinic International as soon as possible.