Vicki
Administrator
Dog's death prompts warning about algae blooms
Kirsti Marohn, 1:37 p.m. CDT June 26, 2014
CLEAR LAKE – State pollution experts are warning dog owners to keep their pets out of algae-infested waters after a dog died last weekend after swimming in a Sherburne County lake.
Brock and Kirsten Tatge and their four children, who live on the south side of Prairie Lake near Clear Lake, were enjoying the water last Sunday afternoon when their dog, Cooper, became ill.
Cooper, a healthy, active, 5-year-old labrador retriever, had been fetching a tennis ball from the lake, Brock Tatge said.
Shortly afterward, Cooper began vomiting and panting very hard. Tatge took him to a veterinary office, but Cooper's condition deteriorated, and he died.
Tatge said it's been a tough week for his family.
"He was a tremendous hunting dog and a great family pet," he said.
The family has lived on Prairie Lake for 10 years. Tatge said it's known as a clear, clean lake, but that day it was different.
"We noticed these green clouds of slime," he said. The lake also had an unusual odor.
The cause of Cooper's illness hasn't been confirmed, but MPCA staff found some blue-green algae mixed in with less toxic species on Prairie Lake.
Blue-green algae blooms are thick and cloudy, and can look like green paint, pea soup or floating mats of scum. Some contain toxins that can be deadly to dogs and other animals.
In humans, they can cause nausea and irritation of the skin, eye, nose and throat.
Blue-green algae is most often seen in years when lake levels are low. However, blooms can be triggered by high levels of nutrients such as phosphorus. This year's heavy rainfalls have contributed to the problem by carrying large amounts of nutrients into lakes.
Prairie Lake doesn't typically have an algae problem, Tatge said. However, it is surrounded by farm fields that were fertilized shortly before the heavy rains, he said.
Tatge feels fortunate that his children, who were also swimming in the lake, haven't developed any illness. He was surprised by how quickly and aggressively the algae affected Cooper.
"It became fatal within minutes," he said.
The experience has made his family more cautious about getting in the water.
"We're going to be a lot more careful," Tatge said. "If we see algae present, we're going to err on the side of caution."
The MPCA advises pet owners to keep their animals away from algae-laden lakes. If pets do enter water with heavy algae growth, they should be hosed off before they have a chance to lick themselves clean.
Dog's death prompts warning about algae blooms
Kirsti Marohn, 1:37 p.m. CDT June 26, 2014
CLEAR LAKE – State pollution experts are warning dog owners to keep their pets out of algae-infested waters after a dog died last weekend after swimming in a Sherburne County lake.
Brock and Kirsten Tatge and their four children, who live on the south side of Prairie Lake near Clear Lake, were enjoying the water last Sunday afternoon when their dog, Cooper, became ill.
Cooper, a healthy, active, 5-year-old labrador retriever, had been fetching a tennis ball from the lake, Brock Tatge said.
Shortly afterward, Cooper began vomiting and panting very hard. Tatge took him to a veterinary office, but Cooper's condition deteriorated, and he died.
Tatge said it's been a tough week for his family.
"He was a tremendous hunting dog and a great family pet," he said.
The family has lived on Prairie Lake for 10 years. Tatge said it's known as a clear, clean lake, but that day it was different.
"We noticed these green clouds of slime," he said. The lake also had an unusual odor.
The cause of Cooper's illness hasn't been confirmed, but MPCA staff found some blue-green algae mixed in with less toxic species on Prairie Lake.
Blue-green algae blooms are thick and cloudy, and can look like green paint, pea soup or floating mats of scum. Some contain toxins that can be deadly to dogs and other animals.
In humans, they can cause nausea and irritation of the skin, eye, nose and throat.
Blue-green algae is most often seen in years when lake levels are low. However, blooms can be triggered by high levels of nutrients such as phosphorus. This year's heavy rainfalls have contributed to the problem by carrying large amounts of nutrients into lakes.
Prairie Lake doesn't typically have an algae problem, Tatge said. However, it is surrounded by farm fields that were fertilized shortly before the heavy rains, he said.
Tatge feels fortunate that his children, who were also swimming in the lake, haven't developed any illness. He was surprised by how quickly and aggressively the algae affected Cooper.
"It became fatal within minutes," he said.
The experience has made his family more cautious about getting in the water.
"We're going to be a lot more careful," Tatge said. "If we see algae present, we're going to err on the side of caution."
The MPCA advises pet owners to keep their animals away from algae-laden lakes. If pets do enter water with heavy algae growth, they should be hosed off before they have a chance to lick themselves clean.
Dog's death prompts warning about algae blooms