Blue green algae

[Drahthaar1108]

3 dogs died in Wilmington N.C. and 1 in Georgia from blue green Algae bloom in a pond, Cyanobacteria
It is supposed to be green slime or brown, it is all over the US, starts when the water gets 75 deg , may have a rotten smell.
Can kill a dog in 15 minutes, toxic to all animals .
Not good where I live we are 2' below sea level . Forrest

[mtbirder]

Yup, found lotsa' places and deadly as hell.
Montana's Hebgen Reservoir (for example), at 6500'+ above sea level, a stone's throw outside YNP - it's a fairly common periodic occurrence here.
I generally keep my girls out of any stillwater containing any visible algae in the heat of the summer. Even though most is harmless.
I also have the luxury of cold/cool rivers and tribs at my disposal for the dogs swimming pleasure - and my peace of mind.

[ryanr]

Seems like a bad year for it, a number of lakes in NJ have had swimming and wading closures much of the summer due to blue-green algae outbreaks. I also know of young pup that reportedly succumbed to it. In my local lake (reservoir) where I run my dogs alot the swimming beach is sometimes closed due to bacteria levels (almost always after a hard rain followed by several hot days) but thankfully we don't seem to have an algae issue.

Our duck search water is a large lake/marsh that was formerly two peat quarries. We have plenty of lily pads and duck weed but no algae. I think it might have something to do with the tannic nature of the water.

[huntinmo]

Another report, but it could be anywhere: "CENTERVILLE, Iowa – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is warning about a potentially toxic blue-green algae bloom at Rathbun Lake in southeast Iowa."

[mtlhdr]

Pretty scary stuff. Just saw a story about couple who lost 3 dogs within hours of swimming in a pond in NC. Seems like we have more and more reports every summer out here in CA.

[JTracyII]

A friend's parents dog died yesterday and given the symptoms likely died due to this stuff. It starting having multiple siezures, and never had these symptoms before, then died. Saw what appeared to be blooms of this stuff in my dad's pond last week. Kept his dog away just to be safe.

[AverageGuy]

It's got my attention. Traveling to KS for the dove opener with a plan of hunting evening waterholes. Gonna have to look things over carefully. Teal follows that and of course presents the same or worse risks ...

[Dmog]

It's got my attention. Traveling to KS for the dove opener with a plan of hunting evening waterholes. Gonna have to look things over carefully. Teal follows that and of course presents the same or worse risks ...

The winds been blowing enough lately that the ponds I have been around in central and southwestern KS have been free of that nasty stuff. Haven’t check any of the bottoms/marshes yet but the reservoirs have been clear in the majority of the areas. Like you, I will be checking unfamiliar waters before the dogs get in.

[AverageGuy]

Saw this on the pond below the house this morning. Any toxic algae experts on here that can offer an opinion on whether that is what this is?

[orhunter]

Yea, we need photos. I saw some odd algae in the Powder River arm of Brownlee Res. but it was mixed with the stuff that usually grows there so no clear idea of what it looks like. I kept the dog out of the water.

[AverageGuy]

Harvey, The bluegreen slicks floating on top out from the bank are toxic algae. We are headed to SD this morning and will be in and around water there and 3 other states over the next 3 weeks hunting doves and teal. Adds a real concern to the equation.

[orhunter]

Kent: Yea, the warm weather will still be with us and pond stuff will be growing as usual. Bad news for us with dogs that love water and never turn down a chance to dive in and drink a couple of gallons. Gotta keep them leashed up and that never goes over well with the dog. The stuff I saw had a somewhat more bluish appearance than in the stuff in the photo. Looked kinda fluorescent but like I said, it was mixed with the junk that usually grows there.

Good luck on your hunt. Keep the Spudster safe. Will expect photos and text.

[jarbo03]

A friends GWP almost died from it here in NE Kansas a month ago. Most dogs don't make it, luckily they took him in before seizures even started. When he started acting weird they knew something was wrong. Helos the vet was only 10 min away. We get these warnings every year it seems.

[Drahthaar1108]

Glad your friend was able to save his dog, lucky. Forrest

[jarbo03]

Glad your friend was able to save his dog, lucky. Forrest

Very lucky. Getting him there fast and hooked up to IVs was crucial. He is on some meds now, and vet will comtinue monitoring his liver function for a while to make sure it is functioning properly.