{"id":1311,"date":"2018-07-20T03:44:03","date_gmt":"2018-07-20T03:44:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aercmn.com\/?p=1311"},"modified":"2018-07-20T03:44:03","modified_gmt":"2018-07-20T03:44:03","slug":"dangers-of-blue-green-algae","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/dangers-of-blue-green-algae\/","title":{"rendered":"Dangers of Blue-Green Algae"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If your pet swam in blue-green algae or drank from a body of water containing blue-green algae, this is considered a \u201cRED\u201d \u2013 or true emergency \u2013 on our Fast Track Triage system. We advise you to seek immediate veterinary care. Please call ahead of your arrival so the veterinary team knows to expect you! <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria<\/strong>)\u00a0are photosynthetic bacteria that grow in the slow moving or stagnant waters of lakes, ponds, and wetlands. The bacteria are often called algae because of the way they look when clumped on water. Despite the name, algae can also range in color from olive green to red.<\/p>\n

Algae Blooms<\/strong>
\nBlue-green algae grow rapidly during the warm months of summer. They thrive in areas of runoff where water is rich in nutrients. The microscopic bacteria are often blown around by the wind and accumulate along shorelines. \u00a0If accumulations are heavy enough, the algae can give the water a blue-green or \u201cpea soup\u201d appearance. \u00a0This is an algae bloom.<\/p>\n

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Health Risk of Blue-Green Algae<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Not all algae are toxic. However, it is not possible to determine if a bloom is toxic just by looking at it; water testing is required. Therefore, all blooms should be considered potentially toxic. As with any toxin, the extent of symptoms depends on the type of toxin and the level of exposure. Even a few sips of water containing blue-green algae toxin can cause a fatal toxicity. Some toxicities are so severe that dogs don\u2019t even have time to make it to a veterinary hospital for treatment.<\/p>\n

Blue green-algae can produce two types of toxins:\u00a0hepatotoxins<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0neurotoxins<\/strong>.<\/p>\n