The warning that blue-green algae blooms can be deadly has proven true after an incident on a farm on Highway 60 west of Renfrew.
CityNews is reporting that a puppy perished after taking a dip in a creek riddled with the toxin on a local farm on Saturday May 29th.
Within 20 minutes the family pet began stumbling around the home and had soon lapsed into a coma.
The family rushed the pet to Ottawa, where initial testing results were inconclusive- but the pooch soon required intubation due to what was diagnosed as a severe brain stem lesion due to unknown toxicity, and the pet was put down.
The next day the affliction was observed in another of the family’s dogs, but this time the vet was able to apply charcoal ingestion in addition to medication, and the second dog was saved.
The RCDHU notes that residents should be on the alert for algae blooms, and should always assume these are toxic unless proven otherwise.
Call the Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 if you suspect a bloom is present.
More information on blue-green algae is available on the health unit’s website.