This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Diving into cool water can be a quick way to escape the summer heat, but during certain times of year, freshwater can pose hidden dangers to people and pets. Lakes and canals can harbor toxic algae that swimmers and pet owners may not see or even know are there.
A 2017 study published in the journal Current Opinion in Food Science by FIU researcher Schonna R. Manning examines cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, which can multiply rapidly in freshwater, forming blooms and proliferations that may contain potentially deadly toxins. According to Manning, some algal toxins can affect the nervous system, while others cause skin irritation or organ damage.
For dogs, the risk can be even more serious because of the way they interact with water. "Where humans can avoid consuming algae, dogs often do not because they're actively gulping the water while they swim," Manning said. Dogs can also ingest algae and toxins that get onto their fur after swimming.
"When they get out of the water, they groom themselves to clean off any stuff that may have gotten onto their coat," Manning said. "This can lead to accidental ingestion and create a tragic situation." In severe cases, exposure to cyanobacteria can be fatal. Manning and her lab were the first to detect dihydroanatoxin, a potent neurotoxin, in algal mat materials.
The toxin was suspected in several canine fatalities and was reported in the journal Data in Brief in 2020. Later, Manning studied a case, published 2023 in Toxins, in which a dog died within two hours of accidentally consuming algae. The neurotoxin was detected in the dog's digestive system just before death.
Because these events can happen unexpectedly, her team has been working to understand the environmental factors that lead to toxin-producing blooms. Cyanobacteria are just one group of organisms that can occur in aquatic environments, and not all algae produce dangerous toxins. But certain cyanobacterial blooms can be concerning because of the toxins they produce.
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