A Toxic Blue-Green Algae Bloom Just Killed A Family Dog In Georgia’s Lake Allatoona

Is your dog at risk from a toxic blue-green algae bloom in Georgia? Before you shake your head and think, "that definitely can't affect us here," think again. Just recently a family dog was killed after swimming in Lake Allatoona due to the toxic algae and it's up to us to spread the word so that this doesn't happen again. Before you take your pup to the local pond or lake to cool off from the warmer temps, understand what this toxic algae is and how to prevent your dog from getting sick or worse.

It’s not uncommon to want to take your pup to the local river, lake, or pond during the summer in order to keep cool from the rising temps.

But this year, you need to be careful about where you choose to take your dog, as it can mean the difference between life or death.

Over the weekend, a family dog passed away soon after he swam in Allatoona Lake.

The dog, who was a border collie named Arya was enjoying a swim at Allatoona Lake with her family but during the drive home became very sick.

Arya’s family took her to the emergency vet, who were unable to save her from what the vet declared were symptoms from toxic blue-green algae which must have been ingested during Arya’s swim

This story isn’t the only of its kind—three dogs just recently passed away in North Carolina and the famed Lady Bird Lake in Texas has been closed down after dogs were getting sick.

While a reservoir spokesperson from Allatoona Lake advised news channels Monday that the Army Corp of Engineers who run the lake were unaware of an algae bloom within the lake, it is possible that there is one.

So, what exactly is toxic blue-green algae and how can we avoid it, especially with our pets?

Environmental scientists have stated that toxic blue-green algae blooms in warm weather—either saltwater or freshwater—and can be fatal to pets if ingested.

While no human deaths have occurred within the United States, symptoms from this algae bloom can cause a rash, fever, and internal illness.

Sometimes this algae is visible on the surface of the body of water, with a foam or scum-like appearance, and also can have a bad odor.

But other times, this algae bloom can be extremely difficult to detect and won’t be known until symptoms develop.

A few toxic-algae symptoms that can show up within minutes with dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, seizures, lethargy, and death.

While most bodies of water within Georgia are safe from this toxic blue-green algae, it is important to be aware of where you're taking your furry friend in order to keep cool this summer.

Let's keep our dogs safe, Georgians! Share this with your friends and family to spread the word about this dangerous algae.

Meanwhile, keep Arya's family, Morgan and Patrick Fleming, in your thoughts after this truly tragic experience.