Toxic algae suspected in Cowichan-area dog deaths

Earlier this month, Dr. Lyn Pascoe's dog, Austin, slipped out of their fenced, lakeside property in North Cowichan and returned with fluorescent green algae clinging to his wet legs.

The next day, the six-year-old border collie-Australian shepherd cross was dead.

Now Pascoe, a local family physician, is worried about risks to other pets and people who are exposed to the blue-green algae in QuamichanLake.

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"He's a bit of a Houdini," Pascoe said, remembering the day Austin escaped from their yard.

"That evening he started throwing up. He threw up about five times, and I thought, 'Oh goodness, he's got into something,'" Pascoe said.

The next afternoon, she says veterinary blood tests identified "massive liver toxicity", not long before Austin went into seizures and died.

Other dogs dead in similar circumstances

Within days of herdog's death, Pascoe learnedof two other dogs, also living in lakefront homes,that died in the last month.

"I contacted both those property owners and both dogs had died under similar circumstances."

One was a small, three-year-old dog thatexperienced seizures and vomiting after going into the water, and died within 12 hours, she said.

The otherwas an older dog.The owner sayshehad been playing in the lake."The dog threw up at night and she found him dead in the morning."

A fourth bereaved dog owner, Dave Thompson,says he believestoxic blue-green algae also killed his dog.

On Oct. 9, Thompson brought his award-winning retriever, Thor, to QuamichanLake for the opening of duck-hunting season.

Thor waded through a tributary creek to retrieve a duck and returned with his legs covered in green slime. Thompson tried to clean off the slime, but by the time they returned home to Bowser, Thor was vomiting. Despite admission to a veterinary hospital he was dead within hours.

"He was only six, in the prime of life, and the loss has been devastating," Thompson said. "I hope dog owners pay attention. This is serious."

Lakes not tested for algae

North Cowichandoes not test local lakes for toxic algae, soPascoeis awaiting test results fromQuamichanLake water samples she collected to confirm whether toxic algae is present.

In the meantime, shehas alerted local government and regional health officials about thecircumstances of the dogs' deaths.

Warnings have been posted by the district at public recreational areas around QuamichanLake."We ourselves have gone around and put out posters and flyers to as many people as we can,"Pascoesaid.

She and her partnerconsulted HealthLinkBCto learn more about blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria. The site advises that the periodic algae blooms can sometimes produce toxic chemicals, whichcan kill pets and livestockand make humans ill.

"I really didn't know my dog could die from it," Pascoe told All Points West guest host Richard Zussman.

North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefeburesays algae blooms occur frequently in Quamichanand Somenos lakes. Agriculture and nearby residential development are contributing factors, as well as climate change and the shallowness of the lakes.

"I suspect with the warmer conditions it's something we're doing to be dealing with more frequently,"Lefeburesaid.
"Take care of your pets because this is a very worrisome situation."

With files from Megan Thomas and CBC Radio One's All Points West

To hear the full interview withDr. LynPascoe, click the audio labelled:Toxic algae suspected in Cowichan-area dog deaths