LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County health officials are offering guidelines for keeping pets and people safe while enjoying water recreation as the investigation into the cause of death of a dog playing in a county creek continues.
Accumulations of blue-green algae are a common and familiar sight in freshwater lakes, ponds and streams throughout the country, including Clear Lake.
Most frequently visible as green, soup-like water, oily-appearing surface scum or foamy mats, cyanobacteria tend to flourish or collect in sunny areas where water is shallow and undisturbed, or in locations where wind and currents cause surface blooms to collect.
Some blue-green algae produce toxins that can pose a range of health risks to people and animals when they are exposed to them in large enough quantities.
Water monitoring for cyanotoxins is regularly done by the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians and Elem Indian Colony. This valuable service helps facilitate safe lake use.
The most recent water testing results of Clearlake of 22 sites throughout the lake on Aug. 20 were all below the caution level, county officials reported.
Pets, such as dogs, are particularly at risk because they are not deterred by the disagreeable odors of decaying algal mats, they are prone to swallowing water while swimming, and they can ingest cyanobacteria while self-cleaning their coat following contact with the lake.
While a pet illness from cyanotoxins has not been confirmed, the recent death of a dog earlier this week has prompted local officials to remind residents and visitors to take precautions for the safe enjoyment of Clear Lake and other nearby water bodies.
The dog died earlier this week following a brief severe illness that began immediately after swimming in the Putah Creek area.
Although the cause of the illness is still being evaluated, Lake County Water Resources has obtained samples for testing of the water in the area where the dog and its owners were recreating.
Lake County Public Health has arranged for specialized testing at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory in Davis in order to determine if the illness was caused by cyanotoxins.
Symptoms in the pet are consistent with possible cyanotoxin exposure, including difficulty breathing, unresponsiveness, and tongue and gums turning a bluish color. Humans recreating nearby have not reported illness.
There was a laboratory documented case of a cyanotoxin-related death of a dog in Lake County in 2013, and this case is an indication that caution might be needed even when algal accumulations do not appear as severe as in previous years.
County officials urge the community to use appropriate precautions while this scientific testing is completed to determine if any potential health risks associated with cyanobacteria exist.
Regardless of any eventual findings in this case, Scott De Leon, interim director of Lake County Water Resources, and Erin Gustafson, MD, MPH, Lake County public health officer, urge the public to observe important safeguards to avoid harmful effects of cyanobacteria.
These safeguards include:
• Avoid contact with water in areas with surface foam, scum, or a pea soup appearance. This is particularly important for small children and pets.
• Avoid generating aerosols (water skiing, jet skiing, etc.) in areas of the lake where there are signs of blue-green algae.
• After swimming, towel off properly. Even better, shower with fresh water. After pets swim, rinse with fresh water and towel them dry to prevent them from ingesting the blue-green algae while self-cleaning.
• Never drink untreated lake or other surface water. Boiling water does not guarantee that it is safe to drink.
• If unexplained illness develops following direct exposure to water in a lake, pond, or stream, see a doctor (or bring your pet to a veterinarian) promptly and be sure to mention the exposure that occurred.
For more information and resources, visit the following county cyanobacteria pages.
http://www.lakecountyca.gov/cyanobacteria/
http://www.lakecountyca.gov/cyanohealth/
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/f2d74c_444a13a73abe47b5ae90256d4f8085bb.pdf : Action levels for acute exposure for dogs for cyanotoxins.
For current cyanotoxin lab results, please visit the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians cyanotoxin monitoring website: https://www.bvrancheria.com/clearlakecyanotoxins .
Local officials: Take precautions to keep pets and people safe around blue-green algae
- Lake County News reports
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