DANGERS OF SWIMMING - BLUE-GREEN ALGAE TOXICITY

Blue-green algae is not always blue-green. It can be green, yellow, brown, or even red. So do not let the name be deceiving.

"Blooms can occur at any time, but most often occur in late summer or early fall. They can occur in marine, estuarine, and fresh waters, but the blooms of greatest concern are the ones that occur in fresh water, such as drinking water reservoirs or recreational waters.
Some cyanobacterial blooms can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of fresh water lakes and ponds. The blooms can be blue, bright green, brown, or red and may look like paint floating on the water. Some blooms may not affect the appearance of the water. As algae in a cyanobacterial bloom die, the water may smell bad.
Some cyanobacteria that can form CyanoHABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) produce toxins that are among the most powerful natural poisons known. These toxins have no known antidotes.
Swallowing water that has cyanobacterial toxins in it can cause acute, severe gastroenteritis (including diarrhea and vomiting).
Liver toxicity (i.e., increased serum levels of liver enzymes). Symptoms of liver poisoning may takes hours or days to show up in people or animals. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Kidney toxicity.
Neurotoxicity. These symptoms can appear within 15 to 20 minutes after exposure. In dogs, the neurotoxins can cause salivation and other neurologic symptoms, including weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, convulsions, anddeath. People may have numb lips, tingling fingers and toes, or they may feel dizzy." (taken from the USDAC site at the following link http://www.usdac.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=107 )

It can be there one day and gone the next.

If in doubt, don't let your dog swim there. Its better to be safe than sorry.

Dogs develop the toxicity from ingestion of the algae. This can come from a dog drinking the water or even accidentally ingesting it from licking their hair after a day of swimming.

Toxicity can occur either in the liver of the dog that ingested the algae or in the nervous system.

Signs of Blue-Green Algae Toxicity in the liver may include:

Weakness/lethargy

Pale mucous membranes

Bloody Diarrhea

Mental Instability

Death

Signs of Blue-Green Algae Toxicity in the nervous system may include:

Muscle tremors

Convulsions

Labored breathing

Difficulty moving

Death

If you think your dog has been poisoned by blue-green algae get them to the vet immediately. There is no way to treat this at home by yourself. It could be the difference between life and death!