Experts have warned dog walkers to be on the lookout for a toxic algae that looks like “green mashed potatoes” which can be fatal if ingested.
Blue-green algae spread in “blooms” over lakes and rivers, turning the water a vibrant green color and giving it an earthy or damp smell.
But the substance contains toxins that prevent the dog’s liver from functioning, which could cause death in just one hour.
A woman tragically lost her beloved two-year-old dog after it came into contact with the deadly substance at a lake in Somerset.
A severely affected freshwater lake, Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, is being devastated by algae, which have formed uncontrollable blooms over the summer.
One expert said the substance (pictured) can appear as “a green crust that looks like mashed potatoes.”
Harmful algae blooms have covered much of Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland all summer.
It comes as environmentalists in Lough Neagh organize a “wake” to commemorate what they say is the death of the famous lake due to the substance, officially known as cyanobacteria.
Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the United Kingdom or Ireland, supplies 40 percent of Northern Ireland’s drinking water and supports a major eel fishing industry.
While ingesting cyanobacteria is not known to be fatal to humans, it can cause us serious illnesses.
“The state of the lake at the moment is simply appalling,” environmental scientist Leslie Gornall told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday.
‘At the end of the lake there is a green crust that looks like mashed potatoes and is a minimum of six inches deep and possibly 18 inches deep.
“If you put a boat oar on it, the entire blade of the oar can rise up and act like a paddle… it smells disgusting.”
Blue-green algae contain toxins that can kill livestock, wildlife, and domestic pets, both cats and dogs.
“If you leave your dog there to chase a ball, he’ll come out, lick his fur, and be dead within 24 hours,” Dr. Gornall said.
“Immediate action is needed, otherwise we will lose not only the lake but also the Lough Neagh eel…we will also lose tourism.”
Lough Neagh supplies 40 per cent of Northern Ireland’s drinking water and supports a major eel fishing industry, but it is being devastated by algae.
Algae on the surface of Lough Neagh as environmental activists hold a ‘wake’ to protest lack of action
An adorable two-year-old flat-coated retriever named Cove (pictured) died less than 45 minutes after being poisoned by blue-green algae in Somerset.
Blue-green algae is not unique to Lough Neagh by any means, and the substance has recently been spotted at Lake Windermere in Cumbria, Highams Park Lake in London, the River Jubilee in Berkshire and Lake Wimbleball in Somerset.
An interactive map shows the location of cyanobacteria in UK waters, as reported by the public.
The flowers make water look like pea soup or spilled green paint, but they can also look like more solid clumps or foams, especially near shorelines.
Some town councils have put up signs warning of the danger if a lake is poisoned by flowers, but this is not always the case.
Dogs that run away from their owners off-leash could enter an affected river or lake before the owner realizes it.
A Blue Cross spokesperson said there is no antidote for the toxins produced by blue-green algae.
“If caught early, your vet will probably try to make your dog sick and try to remove the toxins from the body before they take hold,” they said.
“Unfortunately, blue-green algae poisoning often leads to fatal liver failure.”
In humans, contact with blue-green algae can cause skin rashes, nausea, stomach pains, fever, and headaches.
There have been some reports of more serious illnesses, including liver and brain damage, according to the Blue Cross, but there are no confirmed human deaths.
Children are at higher risk than adults of developing problems due to their comparatively lower body weight.
Affected waters at Frampton on Severn in Gloucestershire. Algae growth is related to excess nutrients in the water.
Sign at Preston Marina in Lancashire warning the public about the dangers of blue-green algae
Due to health risks, fishermen are urged not to eat anything they catch in waters they suspect may be affected.
Although cyanobacteria are not a new species, the summer heat has fueled their growth in recent months.
A combination of warm temperatures, sunlight, and nutrient-rich waters is what causes blue-green algae to reproduce rapidly, or “bloom.”
Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertilizers running off fields are thought to be another important factor.
The spread of the invasive zebra mussel species is also thought to have played a role, as they have cleared the water, allowing more sunlight to penetrate and stimulating photosynthesis.
