Warning: Blue-green algae can harm you, your pets

WOOD COUNTY – Health officials are warning pet owners to use care if they take their dogs to the beach as the weather warms up, especially when it comes to blue-green algae.

The bacteria occurs naturally in Wisconsin’s waters, and with enough sunlight and nutrients it can grow to high levels, causing a so-called algae bloom, the state Department of Natural Resources.

Blooms are often smelly, look like spilled paint or pea soup, and can change the color of the water to green, blue, turquoise, purple, tan or white. Some blooms form a layer of scum or mats on the surface of the water.

The algae mass can also produce toxins, called cyanotoxins, which can make people and animals sick after they swallow, breathe in or simply have contact with the water.

Among the risks to people are liver damage, gastrointestinal illness and seizures, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

The DNR warns that dogs are especially susceptible, because they will often swallow affected water while swimming. After swimming, they can also get poisoned because the algae will stick to their coats, exposing them while they clean themselves.

Symptoms in dogs can include lethargy, loss of appetite, seizures, vomiting and convulsions.

To stay safe, the DNR recommends:

• Do not swim in water that looks like "pea soup," green or blue paint, or that has a scum layer or puffy blobs floating on the surface.
• Do not boat, water ski, etc., over such water (people can be exposed through inhalation).
• Do not let children play with scum layers, even from shore.
• Do not let pets or livestock swim in, or drink, waters experiencing blue-green algae blooms.
• Always take a shower after encountering any surface water (whether or not a blue-green algae bloom appears to be present; surface waters may contain other species of potentially harmful bacteria and viruses).
• Try to avoid swallowing lake water, no matter how clean it looks, since it may have bacteria, viruses, or parasites in it that could make you sick.