18/05/2022
Algae poisoning in dogs 🐾
Blue-green algae can cause dogs to suffer liver failure and is even fatal in severe cases.
The term refers to a cluster of bacteria - known as cyanobacteria - that’s so small, it can’t be seen by the naked eye unless it groups together.
Blue-green algae is most common in the summer months, especially dry periods where there’s no rain. It lingers on stagnant water sources, like lakes and ponds, but can even be found closer to home, in our gardens and in water fountains!
More often than not, it will have an off-putting appearance. In some cases where the toxicity level is really high, you may see dead fish floating in the water.
Not all types of blue-green algae are dangerous but sadly, there’s no way of differentiating between the harmful and the harmless, so all algae-contaminated water is best avoided.
Certain algae produce toxins that can cause severe liver damage if they’re ingested by dogs. This can be fatal in extreme cases
always contact your vet immediately if you think your dog has ingested it!
