A local veterinary hospital is warning pet owners to keep their animals out of the Columbia River following the death of a dog which may have been caused by a toxic algae bloom.
Midway Veterinary Hospital in Warren, between St. Helens and Scappoose, released their warning in a Facebook post on Aug. 9. saying that they had been "made aware of one canine death so far." Sadly, that dog was named "Jax," and he belonged to Tanya Bachman and her family.
Tanya and her family experienced a tragic loss when Jax passed away following a day trip to Sand Island in the Columbia River near St. Helens. Bachman and her family believe the cause of death was toxic algae.
"He swam on the north point for approximately 15 minutes then returned to our boat for a rest. We went back out for another 15 minutes and he began to display signs of being sick," Bachman said. "His tail was tucked, and he pooped in the water, then had diarrhea on the sand. He walked a few more steps then threw up. Within moments, he went into shock, his eyes dilated, and he was rigid (paralysis)."
Bachman said the deterioration of Jax's health set on rapidly, and the symptoms all arose within the span of about ten minutes. Though they rushed to get Jax back to the shore and to veterinary care, he suffered a "seizure and became unconscious." He never regained consciousness, and Jax passed away in the back of the Bachman's car en route to emergency care. From when Jax began showing symptoms to when he passed away, only about an hour had passed.
About algae blooms
Oregon Health Authority Lead Communications Officer Jonathan Modie said the agency is investigating a dog death that occurred Aug. 4 and explained more about algae blooms and the risks they present.
"People commonly refer to cyanobacteria as blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring, single-celled bacteria found in both fresh and marine waters around the globe," Modie said." Colonies we call blooms can occur in any water body under conditions that support an increase in the number of cells present. Cyanobacteria are not always harmful. However, when toxigenic cyanobacteria are present and the cells multiply into bloom, they can produce toxins that can be harmful to people, pets, livestock, and wildlife."
Modie said microcystis species are the most common bloom-forming genera worldwide and almost always produce cyanotoxins called microcystins. Microcystis blooms look:
Green Thick Paint-like Sometimes form green globs
Modie said dogs have died after drinking affected water from shorelines, bedrock pools, and shallow, calm areas of rivers like coves, wetlands, and docks. Extremely low levels of cyanotoxins can be deadly to pets due to their size and level of activity. Exposures occur through drinking affected water, eating scum, and licking dried cells from rocks and their fur even after they are out of the water.
Dogs should not be allowed to eat cyanobacteria cells from a suspected bloom, lick cells off rocks near a bloom, or lick their fur if they come into contact with a bloom. If contact with a bloom occurs, the affected area should be washed with clean water from a separate source as soon as possible. Modie also encouraged people to contact a veterinarian immediately if a dog eats, drinks, swallows, or enters affected waters and shows any of these signs:
Drooling Weakness Diarrhea Vomiting Staggering Convulsions
"If a pet is suspected of being exposed and shows any abnormal activity or symptoms, the owner should get their pet to a veterinarian immediately and then notify the OHA Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Bloom (CHAB) Program," Modie said. "There is currently no antidote for cyanotoxin exposure."
According to Modie, a person should contact the OHA CHAB Program if they show symptoms and suspect they or their pet have been exposed to a cyanobacterial bloom or cyanotoxins. Symptoms of cyanotoxin exposure in people are self-limiting and should go away within 72 hours. However, if symptoms persist, they should seek medical attention.
Describing the water conditions on the day Jax suddenly died, Bachman said, "the water was low and warm (low tide) with areas of a brownish-green murky look." Given her own family's shocking experience, she said people need to be aware of how the water looks and its temperature to make sure they and their pets are safe.
Under investigation
Though Bachman's experience with Jax lines up with many of the symptoms Modie described of cyanobacteria exposure, OHA and other agencies are conducting testing in the area to see whether there is an algae bloom in the waters of the Columbia.
"Representatives of the agency's Environmental Public Health Section met with counterparts at DEQ, WA Department of Health, WA Department of Ecology, EPA, and USGS Oregon Water Resource Center on Aug. 15 to discuss the situation on the Columbia River near the northern tip of Sauvie Island across from St. Helens," Modie said. "A water sample was collected in that area on Monday – unrelated to the reported dog death, but rather as part of a routine monitoring effort – and the agencies are awaiting laboratory results."
Depending on those results, Modie said additional samples may be taken by OHA's Oregon partners or by our Washington counterparts, who would work with their local (county) agency partners to do sample collection. If toxin results come back with detections, we will work with interstate and interagency partners to develop a sampling plan to identify where the cyanotoxins are coming from.
Modie said that OHA issues health advisory warnings when people need to stay out of affected waters to avoid illnesses.
"OHA does so when a cyanobacteria bloom is found, and lab results show cyanotoxin levels are higher than OHA recreational use values," Modie said. "When a recreational use advisory is issued or lifted, OHA issues a press release and distributes this information to the public via email and text to anyone signed up to receive alerts."
People concerned with the safety of their local watering holes are encouraged to monitor OHA and local public health authority's websites, social media, press releases, and FlashAlerts for up-to-date and urgent safety notices.
Bachman said that based on her conversations with OHA, she has been told toxic algae blooms are becoming more frequent with warmer summers and warmer water temperatures due to climate change. Having been through it with her family, Bachman wants to make sure the same tragedy isn't experienced by others.
"Dog owners should be aware of water temperatures and any signs of cloudy, greenish blue or brown water and should probably keep dogs out of local waters from June-September," Bachman said.
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