Dogs In TX, NC, Killed By Same Algae Found In Lake Hopatcong

HOPATCONG, NJ — The same type of harmful algae bloom found in Lake Hopatcong this summer was responsible for the deaths of several family dogs in at least two other states.

Pups in North Carolina and Texas died within hours of coming into contact with lake water with high levels of cyanobacteria, the organism behind the harmful algae blooms. The same type of bacteria has been responsible for the green, swampy water across much of Lake Hopatcong this summer.

In North Carolina, Melissa Martin and Denise Mintz took their three dogs — two West Highland terriers and a goldendoodle mix — on a doggie playdate to swim in a pond and play in the mud. Within minutes of leaving the pond, one of the dogs began having a seizure, owner Melissa Martin said on Facebook. By the end of the night, all three dogs were dead, the victims of blue-green algae poisoning, according to the dog owners.

While it's colloquially referred to as blue-green algae, what's causing the mess on Lake Hopatcong are really cyanobacteria. The microscopic organisms can live in any type of water, and feed through photosynthesis. When there's an abundance of nutrients in the water and powerful sunlight, the cyanobacteria overproduce to cause the types of blooms we've been seeing on Lake Hopatcong this summer.

"This should be a warning to the state of New Jersey that what happened there could happen here. We may not have the same strain of algae, but we need to take this seriously. Cyanobacteria has been found in 8 New Jersey Lakes already like Lake Hopatcong, Greenwood Lake, Manasquan Reservoir, and many others," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "People need to follow DEP’s advisories that say you should not swim or touch the water. It can have serious consequences on humans but also to our pets and wildlife."

Exposure to the bacteria can cause rashes, allergy-like reactions, flu-like symptoms, skin and eye irritation, and diarrhea and vomiting, Mike Haberland, a county agent and an associate professor at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County and Burlington County, told Patch in June.

And those effects can be worse in dogs. When harmful algae blooms are in effect, it's important to keep dogs away from the water, Haberland said.

Haberland once saw dog owners throwing a tennis ball into a "Wizard Of Oz, fluorescent green lake" for their dog to fetch, putting the dog in danger. And dogs are more likely to drink water that humans would avoid.

"Humans, I hope, are not stupid enough to drink green water," Haberland said. "You may think you're stronger [than the bacteria], but why would you want to [find out]?"

If you or your pet become exposed, clean the affected area with fresh water. If you swallowed any, contact your doctor, poison control, or your pet's veterinarian.

Signs of cyanobacteria poisoning in pets include: loss of appetite, loss of energy, vomiting, stumbling and falling, foaming at the mouth, diarrhea, convulsions, excessive drooling, tremors and seizures, or any other unexplained sickness after being in contact with water.

In serious cases of exposure, the cyanobacteria attacks the liver and can kill animals in several hours, Haberland said.

The advisory has been lifted in three sections of Lake Hopatcong: Byram Bay, Indian Harbor and Henderson Cove are all now safe for swimming after bacteria levels dipped below 20,000 cells per milliliter. Levels remain too high to safely swim in the remainder of the lake, officials said.

With reporting by Kimberly Johnson, Patch Staff