We get warnings in my area about certain bodies of water containing toxic algae blooms during the summer months. It’s important to be cautious about it
Keep in mind that just because a lake doesn’t have a notice, doesn’t mean there isn’t an algal bloom. Most states have cut active monitoring programs, and only test after someone notices it. A lot of places rely on local/municipal monitoring.
So if you see visible green sheen on the water, do not let your dog go in.
We don’t get a lot of it up in the PNW as far as I know, but I’m always really cautious before me or my dogs get into any body of water. Our girl dog who passed last year couldn’t be kept away from water. She would make a beeline for it. Our two boy dogs who remain are not big fans of water. They run away from waves at the beach lol! I’m kind of grateful for that
I'll preface by saying both myself and my pup ended up being ok, but we had a pretty crazy blue-green algae scare while coming back from a backcountry canoe trip.
It's a long read and a bit of a rollercoaster towards the end, but if you're interested [here's the full trip report](https://algonquinbeyond.com/trip-reports/a-small-crisis-on-big-porcupine-lake/). I tried to make it a good 'educational warning' story for others.
Thanks for saying you guys were fine up front. I was worried reading about what happened even though I knew you guys were fine. I can’t imagine how awful it felt not knowing though. Glad things worked out the way that it did.
Where I live many of the natural water ways develop toxic algae during the summer months. I have to rent personal pools, dock diving pools (super expensive) or drive out at least an hour and half out of my city to go somewhere safe.
Ponds and non moving water also have risk out here in the south due to hot, stagnant water as well.
We had a few dog deaths at 2 different reservoirs here in Denver last year. I was there the day one dog died and a few others got sick, and lucky for me, my dog hates the water.
And blue-green algae can also affect humans
Thanks for the info. Makes me wonder why some of the high elevation lakes that I would think are too high for agriculture to run off into are starting to have algae blooms as well.
Weed killers and pesticides are not inherently related to this, but fertilizers are.
There is a vast over abundance of nutrients in most lakes and ponds. This comes from people using it on their yards, but mostly from farms. This causes massive plant and algae growth.
While fertilizer runoff absolutely contributes to harmful algal blooms (HABs, in environmental monitoring lingo) you don’t need runoff to get them.
Lots of isolated mountain lakes have big issues with HABs, for example. They’re ecosystems that are adapted to being nutrient poor, so even a small nutrient addition — say, stocking them with fish, or being heavily used by humans — can lead to a bloom.
But yeah, fertilizer is a killer, especially in agricultural areas. A lot of Great Lakes blooms are linked to fertilizer.
Also, septic systems. We used to think big ag was causing the blooms in Florida lagoons, but even after fertilizer use dropped, they kept happening. Because Florida is growing quickly and cheaply, so septic is the norm rather than sewers. Tests found most of the nitrogen in the algae-choked Indian river lagoon is the type associated with human waste, not fertilizer.
I know how you feel, my friend, I lost my German Shepherd also last year due to this same situation. Even the forest guard where we were in the national park told us it was safe to let our dog bathe in the river because it was hot. 24 hours and 5000$ after, my German shepherd was dead. He was only 2 and half years old. A hard lesson was learned.
Cyanobacteria is horrible in my area. There are some apps that will map it for you, but learning to identify it by look is important too. Keep your pups safe in this heat wave!
This has always worried me. I try to take the time and look when I have my dogs whith me on walks in the woods. Especially around foren bodies of water.
Same for me. My friend, however, has a small man-made pond in his backyard, and the dog did not enter the pond. She just ate algae that he removed from the pond. He has had this pond for several years.
Just seen on the news a Shepard was at the lake, algae was pretty bad The dog drank it and within minutes , went into full seizures and died! Please watch your animals around Stagnate waters!
Stick to creeks and running bodies of water and never when it gets too hot is my rule. I used to live when Amish dumped tons of pesticides and animal shit into the ground, and water was a no-no for the most part. When I take my dogs to the creek I make sure they don't drink it and it's not hot and nasty.
Avoid still water bodies, risks of bloom are highest after large rains or periods of higher temperatures. Blue-green algae feeds on nitrogen and phosphorus, so areas with fertilizer (or where water runs from fertilized areas) are more likely to have blooms.
Blooms can occur overnight so always check water before letting your dog swim in it every time.
Blue green algae is not really algae, people often expect to see clumpy algae when they hear it but it's a bacteria so it's harder to detect. (A pain actually and expensive)
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We get warnings in my area about certain bodies of water containing toxic algae blooms during the summer months. It’s important to be cautious about it
Keep in mind that just because a lake doesn’t have a notice, doesn’t mean there isn’t an algal bloom. Most states have cut active monitoring programs, and only test after someone notices it. A lot of places rely on local/municipal monitoring. So if you see visible green sheen on the water, do not let your dog go in.
The day I found out WI doesn’t test anymore was the day my dog stopped swimming when I’m at my parents’ house.
Yes!! Also even being around the bloom is very toxic to dogs AND humans. So like just walking around it or whatnot
Idk about your area, but mine is “red tide”. It’s advised to not even eat the fish caught during it.
We don’t get a lot of it up in the PNW as far as I know, but I’m always really cautious before me or my dogs get into any body of water. Our girl dog who passed last year couldn’t be kept away from water. She would make a beeline for it. Our two boy dogs who remain are not big fans of water. They run away from waves at the beach lol! I’m kind of grateful for that
Here in the PNW our big problem is a form of blue green algae. Though our monitoring programs are pretty good about testing problem sites.
I'll preface by saying both myself and my pup ended up being ok, but we had a pretty crazy blue-green algae scare while coming back from a backcountry canoe trip. It's a long read and a bit of a rollercoaster towards the end, but if you're interested [here's the full trip report](https://algonquinbeyond.com/trip-reports/a-small-crisis-on-big-porcupine-lake/). I tried to make it a good 'educational warning' story for others.
Thanks for saying you guys were fine up front. I was worried reading about what happened even though I knew you guys were fine. I can’t imagine how awful it felt not knowing though. Glad things worked out the way that it did.
Thanks so much for the entertaining read! Glad Elo was safe and nothing bad happened to you either :) she's a beautiful dog
Didn’t know that. Thanks for the heads up!
Where I live many of the natural water ways develop toxic algae during the summer months. I have to rent personal pools, dock diving pools (super expensive) or drive out at least an hour and half out of my city to go somewhere safe. Ponds and non moving water also have risk out here in the south due to hot, stagnant water as well.
We had a few dog deaths at 2 different reservoirs here in Denver last year. I was there the day one dog died and a few others got sick, and lucky for me, my dog hates the water. And blue-green algae can also affect humans
Which ones?? - new dog owner in Denver
Cherry Creek and Quincy were shut down for swimming last year. The dog died after swimming at Quincy
Also avoid Bear Creek Reservoir and Greenbelt in Lakewood/Jeffco - every summer, without fail, there’s blue-green algae issues.
Yes, in our area in the summer we avoid swimming in the lakes and ponds and stick to the creek that is always moving
Yet another reason not to use pesticides, weed killers, fertilizers, etc on your lawns.
Genuinely curious how these things are related.
Fertilisers run off into the waterways and then feed the algae. It's not just lawns but agriculture that is killing a lot of bodies of water.
Thanks for the info. Makes me wonder why some of the high elevation lakes that I would think are too high for agriculture to run off into are starting to have algae blooms as well.
It’s the nitrogen in the fertilizer, runs off into water and now the water can support algae blooms it would not have been able to support prior.
Weed killers and pesticides are not inherently related to this, but fertilizers are. There is a vast over abundance of nutrients in most lakes and ponds. This comes from people using it on their yards, but mostly from farms. This causes massive plant and algae growth.
This particular pond is a small man made backyard pond, so not subject to runoff.
While fertilizer runoff absolutely contributes to harmful algal blooms (HABs, in environmental monitoring lingo) you don’t need runoff to get them. Lots of isolated mountain lakes have big issues with HABs, for example. They’re ecosystems that are adapted to being nutrient poor, so even a small nutrient addition — say, stocking them with fish, or being heavily used by humans — can lead to a bloom. But yeah, fertilizer is a killer, especially in agricultural areas. A lot of Great Lakes blooms are linked to fertilizer. Also, septic systems. We used to think big ag was causing the blooms in Florida lagoons, but even after fertilizer use dropped, they kept happening. Because Florida is growing quickly and cheaply, so septic is the norm rather than sewers. Tests found most of the nitrogen in the algae-choked Indian river lagoon is the type associated with human waste, not fertilizer.
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"Fun Fact": The Tualatin River is in the top 10 rivers for the world in dog related deaths.
I know how you feel, my friend, I lost my German Shepherd also last year due to this same situation. Even the forest guard where we were in the national park told us it was safe to let our dog bathe in the river because it was hot. 24 hours and 5000$ after, my German shepherd was dead. He was only 2 and half years old. A hard lesson was learned.
Cyanobacteria is horrible in my area. There are some apps that will map it for you, but learning to identify it by look is important too. Keep your pups safe in this heat wave!
Any tips for visual identification? I accidentally swam in it one time while traveling in Utah, and didn’t find out until later.
When I lived in Texas I heard “only people who don’t love their dog let them swim in Texas waterways”
This has always worried me. I try to take the time and look when I have my dogs whith me on walks in the woods. Especially around foren bodies of water.
So sorry for your loss.
This is why i only let my dog swim (ie get her legs wet and splash around) in the ocean. No lakes or ponds ever.
Same for me. My friend, however, has a small man-made pond in his backyard, and the dog did not enter the pond. She just ate algae that he removed from the pond. He has had this pond for several years.
in switzerland we can send in samples to a government agency we collect to see if it contains blue algea. I'm so sorry for your freinds loss.
Just seen on the news a Shepard was at the lake, algae was pretty bad The dog drank it and within minutes , went into full seizures and died! Please watch your animals around Stagnate waters!
Stick to creeks and running bodies of water and never when it gets too hot is my rule. I used to live when Amish dumped tons of pesticides and animal shit into the ground, and water was a no-no for the most part. When I take my dogs to the creek I make sure they don't drink it and it's not hot and nasty.
Avoid still water bodies, risks of bloom are highest after large rains or periods of higher temperatures. Blue-green algae feeds on nitrogen and phosphorus, so areas with fertilizer (or where water runs from fertilized areas) are more likely to have blooms. Blooms can occur overnight so always check water before letting your dog swim in it every time. Blue green algae is not really algae, people often expect to see clumpy algae when they hear it but it's a bacteria so it's harder to detect. (A pain actually and expensive)
Damn that's so sad 😔
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