Reports of dogs dying within hours (or seemingly minutes) after visiting a favorite swimming hole sent a wave of fear through the Northwest pet community in recent weeks. The first reports were extremely vague; the cause of illness and death unknown. 

It wasn’t long before the cause of such sudden, heartbreaking deaths was found to be toxins found in blue-green algae. Algae blooms are found in many streams, rivers and ponds — places where many dogs love to recreate during warm months. 

This summer’s lack of rain, combined with a long string of high-temp days, created a major health concern that all pet parents need to know. 

Algae blooms tend to grow in shallow, stagnant or slow-moving water, thriving in high temperatures. Some produce untreatable and deadly neurotoxins that can quickly cause death. Even the smallest amount — ingested by licking a wet paw for example — can lead to grave illness or death.