2020
two thousand twenty
Twenty-Twenty
Subscribe to Wayne County Life RSS post feed
Subscribe to Wayne County Life RSS comment feed
Subscribe to Wayne County Life by email
Wayne County Life on Facebook
Photo courtesy of Maxine Appleby
NY, PA, Lake Champlain Sea Grant Programs, New York State Parks Providing Education to Pet Owners

New York Sea Grant is partnering with the Pennsylvania and Lake Champlain Sea Grant programs and New York State Parks to remind dog owners to enjoy the water this summer, but remember to stay smart, safe, and informed about algal blooms and their impact on people and pets.

“Harmful algal blooms, also known as HABs, are dense populations of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Not all blooms are harmful, but some algal blooms can produce toxins that affect the liver, nervous system, and skin of humans and their pets,” says Jesse Lepak, Ph.D., Great Lakes Fisheries and Ecosystem Health Specialist with New York Sea Grant.

Dog deaths suspected as a result of harmful algal blooms prompted New York Sea Grant to develop a Dogs and HABs informational brochure in 2014. The brochure, updated in 2017, is downloadable from http://seagrant.sunysb.edu/articles/r/2748 with video clips.

In 2018, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation enters its second year of making the brochure available at information kiosks in parks across the state. 



Lake Champlain Sea Grant has adapted the brochure for use in Vermont.

Partners in the Pennsylvania Lake Erie HAB Task Force intend to use the brochure as part of ongoing outreach in northwest Pennsylvania. A Task Force member, the Regional Science Consortium at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle, PA, will include the brochure as part of its new Mobile HAB Lab project.

Toxic HABs can develop in less than 24 hours, which can be faster than testing for toxins can be completed.

Noted algal bloom researcher Dr. Gregory L. Boyer, Ph.D, of the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, comments, “While it is very difficult to prove that animals died from ingestion of blue-green algal toxins, pet owners can take steps to reduce their dogs’ exposure to those toxins. Be diligent about keeping animals out of the scums when algal blooms are present and not letting them eat beach wrack. If the dogs swim in water where blooms are visible, they should be thoroughly washed off immediately to prevent the ingestion of toxins from cleaning their fur.”

Dr. Karyn Bischoff , a toxicologist with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, advises, “Prevention is the best protection for domestic animals. The most severe effects of HABs are from ingestion. The clinical signs depend on the toxins present in the HAB. Neurotoxins can cause immediate effects, including drooling, tremors, and seizures; hepatotoxins can destroy the liver. Both can be rapidly lethal. Animals that have been exposed should be taken to a veterinarian immediately. Time is of the essence in these cases.”

In addition to Boyer and Bischoff, those assisting New York Sea Grant with development of the Dogs and HABs brochure included the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, US Environmental Protection Agency, NOAA National Ocean Service, Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, and Sea Grant Network colleagues.

In 2017, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation listed more than 100 potentially harmful algal blooms in waters across the state. The number of HABs has been increasing such that NY Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced a $65 million initiative to combat HABs. To learn where suspected or confirmed HABs may be in NY waters: see the
 New York State DEC Harmful Algal Blooms Notification Page.

New York Sea Grant is a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, and one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. New York Sea Grant maintains Great Lakes offices in Buffalo, Newark, and Oswego, NY. For updates on New York Sea Grant activities, www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube links. 




Share:

You can make a comment, or trackback from your own site.

6 Comments to "Dog Owners: Stay Smart about Algal Blooms in 2018"

  1. Gil Burgess Said,

    Valuable information!

    Posted on Mon Jun 11, 10:18:00 PM EDT

     
  2. Prepare4test Said,

    Download the Huawei H13-311_V3.0 Q&A PDF file easily to prepare HCIA-AI V3.0 Exam. It is particularly designed for Huawei H13-311_V3.0 exam and our Huawei specialists have created this H13-311_V3.0 Question Dumps observing the original H13-311_V3.0 exam.

    Posted on Wed Oct 13, 05:13:00 AM EDT

     
  3. PDF and Software Said,

    100% Pass Guarantee is offered by us after HCIE – Cloud DataCenter Operations (Written) Exam H31-523 exam preparation, with Prepare4Test’s exam dumps. You can pass the H31-523 exam in the first go with good marks, and it will be easy for you to attempt all H31-523 questions.

    Posted on Wed Oct 13, 05:15:00 AM EDT

     
  4. abrar Said,

    GET Latest news updates at
    Breaking News

    Posted on Wed Dec 07, 11:16:00 AM EST

     
  5. Limo Service Near Me Said,

    If you're looking for an easy, convenient and luxurious way to travel to Logan Airport, look no further than Logan Airport Limo Service. Our experienced drivers will ensure that you arrive at your destination with plenty of time to spare. From our comfortable vehicles to our friendly, knowledgeable staff, you can count on us to ensure your ride is a pleasant and stress-free experience.

    Limo Service Near Me
    Logan Airport Terminal b pickup

    Posted on Thu Jan 26, 02:42:00 AM EST

     

Post a Comment

Most Viewed - Last 30 days

Going Green

Church Life