Pet Safety at Public Water Access

Have you heard of Salmon Poisoning Disease (SPD) in dogs?

It occurs when dogs eat raw fish infected with a disease-causing organism, and can be fatal but is treatable. Affected fish include salmon, trout, shad, sturgeon, large-scale sucker, and others. When near water always keep a close eye on your dog to ensure they are not consuming any raw fish, especially during spawning season late summer to early fall.

Symptoms to watch out for:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Low appetite
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Nasal or eye discharge
• Weight loss

If you see these symptoms and are concerned it may be SPD, contact a veterinarian right away for treatment.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are potentially fatal to animals.

If you see a potentially harmful algae bloom, keep yourselves and your pets away from the water. Do not let pets drink, wade, or swim in the water. Be careful they don't eat any scum/algae or lick it off their fur as they may consume the toxins.

Symptoms to watch out for:

• Excessive drooling, foaming at the mouth
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Jaundice or dark urine
• Stumbling, seizures, lack of motor control
• Disorientation or inactivity
• Elevated heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Skin rashes or hives

If you see these symptoms and are concerned it may be HAB exposure, contact a veterinarian right away - these toxins act quickly and there is no known antidote for them.