another dead dog due to algal poisoning

[donsu]

my question is: are all wildlife, from mouse to deer, around these poisoned lakes, ponds, rivers now dead too. at that one lake out west it killed a number of horses to rancher's dismay.


http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng

New Zealand

A Blenheim man is warning dog owners to think twice about exercising their pets at the Wairau Lagoons Track near Blenheim after his otherwise-healthy dog died less than 24 hours after visiting the popular walking track. Theo Russell, his wife Virginia and their 18-month-old Jack Russell dog Jonty spent about two hours at the Department of Conservation reserve, at the end of Hardings Rd, on Friday afternoon. "He was fine, full of beans, as normal," Mr Russell said. However, by the next morning Jonty was listless and despite being taken to the vet he died that afternoon. Two dogs died of suspected toxic algal poisoning in Wellington last month and while the exact cause of Jonty's death had not been determined Mr Russell feared his pet had suffered a similar fate. Wellington Regional Public Health medical officer of health Annette Nesdale said dogs were particularly susceptible to toxins caused by cyanobacterial mats. Human contact with the blue-green algae, either through skin contact or swallowing, can cause rashes, skin and eye irritations, allergic reactions and gastrointestinal upsets, while exposure to high levels of toxins could result in serious illness or death, Dr Nesdale said. DOC South Marlborough acting area manager Malcolm Brennan said water at the Wairau Lagoons was not tested as it was not a popular swimming spot. Mr Brennan said there were also no poison operations taking place at the reserve.)
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[mike_c]

1. the answer to your question is "not likely..."

...for a variety of reasons. Different species differ in their susceptibility to cyanobacterial toxins, for one thing, and the concentration of toxin is not homogeneous in most contaminated lakes, for another.

[donsu]

4. apparently it kills mammals including humans - that's a lot of wildlife

nt

[Kingshakabobo]

2. That's scary.

How do you know where to let your pup swim?

The forest preserve dog facility I take my girl to has a swimin hole for the dogs. How do you know if is safe on any given day? On a hot day she will jump in and lap up some water........I want to assume she will know what not to drink but, clearly, that's not the case.

[donsu]

3. better to be safe then sorry -

nt