This Type of Algae Found in Ponds Is Potentially Fatal to Dogs—Here's How to Avoid It

This Type of Algae Found in Ponds Is Potentially Fatal to Dogs—Here's How to Avoid It Letting your family pets cool off in water seems like a harmless warm-weather activity, but a few recent incidents suggest otherwise. Reports of dogs dying after swimming in contaminated water have come in from North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. The deaths have been connected to a bloom of blue-green algae, which can be found in ponds where dogs like to splash. Blue-green algae is toxic; it smells awful, for one thing, and is known to kill fish and other marine life when it blooms. It hasn't been confirmed yet, but it's generally believed that this bacteria caused fatal liver failure in these dogs. Dogs can consume the algae either by drinking the water or licking themselves after swimming. According to the EPA, symptoms can be immediate or delayed, and include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and seizures. If you see any of these symptoms, get to the vet immediately. It affects people the same way. Unfortunately, blue-green algae is incredibly difficult to spot. Put simply, you should try to avoid small, stagnant areas of water like ponds during the summer months when algae blooms. Rivers tend to be a better swimming option, as the moving water is less ideal for the algae to thrive.