What Montana Pet Owners Need to Know About Cyanobacteria
By Dr. John Ellington
The long-anticipated warm rays of summer bring with them the bloom of bright yellow, deep purple, and sky-blue wildflowers, dotting the sides of our alpine grasslands and adding much-needed color to the beautiful landscape we call home. However, not all blooms are benign and worth celebrating.
What Is “Blue-Green Algae”?
Cyanobacteria are a collection of microorganisms often referred to as “blue-green algae” because of their appearance. In warmer months — when shallow bodies of water become stagnant and relatively nutrient-rich — cyanobacteria can overgrow and produce striking blooms near shorelines. These blooms range in color from deep, mossy green to a cyanotic blue-green.
During a bloom, the toxins can accumulate in large enough quantities to cause serious illness in dogs, cats, and even people. The most common toxins affect the liver, the skin, and the central nervous system.
What Should I Look For?
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Pale gums
- Collapse
Clinical signs can progress and become life-threatening within hours of exposure. If you just returned from a hike to a lake or pond in the summer with your water-loving dog and they begin showing these signs, visit your vet as soon as humanly possible.
Treatment and Outcome
Avoidance is key. Please do not let your dog swim in shallow, warm, stagnant bodies of water, even if they look clean. Treatment typically consists of inducing vomiting, administering activated charcoal, controlling neurologic signs, and IV fluid therapy.
If you suspect your dog or cat has been exposed to a blue-green algae bloom, call Baxter Creek Veterinary Clinic immediately at (406) 587-5537. Time matters.