The Estevan detachment of the RCMP dealt with a number of reports of possible animal poisonings by unknown persons during the past couple of weeks.
Follow-up investigations revealed that what was initially thought to be attributable to human activity was apparently the result of the animals being exposed to toxins produced by a naturally occurring bacteria known as cyanobacteria, or, blue-green algae.
After gaining that knowledge, the Estevan RCMP in association with the Estevan Prairie Animal Health Centre (PAHC) took the opportunity to warn local pet owners of the potential harmful occurrences, which, although very common, some animal owners may still not be aware of the sometimes fatal results after ingestion of the algae.
The algae are microscopic bacteria commonly found in freshwater lakes, streams, ponds and brackish water ecosystems such as sloughs or dugouts. They can produce cyanotoxins, which are toxins that can be very dangerous to people, livestock and pets that swim in, and drink from the algae-contaminated water.
Blue-green algae grow and colonize to form large blooms that give the water a blue-green or a pea-soup appearance. It also looks like a blue or green paint on the surface of the water. Because the algae float, they may be blown into thick, concentrated mats near the shore, thus making them easily accessible to livestock, pets and people.
Algale concentrations vary throughout the year, but are most abundant during periods of hot weather during the summer months, and are most likely found in nutrient-rich waters, such as those found on farms. This is because common agriculture practices that cause runoff of fertilizers and animal waste will promote and support the growth of algae. It is true that some blue-green algae blooms do not produce toxins, it is not possible to determine the actual presence, or absence of, toxins without testing.
With that in mind, the PAHC and RCMP stated that all blooms should be considered potentially toxic and even very small exposures, such as a few mouthfuls of algae-contaminated water may result in rapid, fatal poisoning, especially with smaller animals.
Although the death of pets and livestock due to cyanobacteria is unusual in this area, it is still a potential hazard and therefore the RCMP and PAHC recommend that owners be cautious and take necessary steps to keep their animals away from local bodies of water which appear to be hosting algae blooms. It is also important to note, they said, that among domestic animals, dogs are the most susceptible to poisoning due to blue-green algae. This is due to their preference for swimming and drinking in dense blooms and an overall greater species sensitivity to the cyanotoxins.
