AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin is urging pet owners to keep their animals out of Lady Bird Lake after being notified that two dogs died after swimming in the lake. The City cannot confirm the cause of either death.
- Algae seen in Lady Bird Lake
- Some algae is harmful to animals
- Humans are not impacted
On Sunday the City tweeted that algae was seen on the surface of the lake and could be harmful to animals. Preliminary results indicate the algae is a type of blue green algae of the genus Oscillatoria. This type of algae can release a neurotoxin that can be harmful to pets and people if a sufficient quantity of water or algae is ingested.
Dogs who drink water contaminated with this toxin could have a number of symptoms. On the severe end, it could result in respiratory paralysis and death.
Look for these signs in your pet within minutes to hours of exposure:
- Excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea
- Foaming at the mouth
- Jaundice, hepatomegaly
- Blood in urine or dark urine
- Stumbling
- Loss of appetite
- Photosensitization in recovering animals
- Abdominal tenderness
- Progression of muscle twitches
- Respiratory paralysis
The current algae bloom appears to be confined to algae growing on the bottom of the lake and then floating in clumps to the surface. Scientists have taken samples of both the algae and the water near the algae in Lady Bird Lake. Results from the analysis for the actual presence of the toxin should be available early next week.
Austin Water does not use Lady Bird Lake as a source for drinking water and this algae is not impacting the drinkable water system for Austin.
The algae should not pose a threat to humans. As a reminder, it is illegal for people to swim in Lady Bird Lake.