As people and their pets seek relief from the heat in lakes and ponds, a Virginia Tech veterinary expert warns of a hidden danger lurking in the water.
“Toxic cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, can be fatal to pets within minutes of exposure,” said Alexandra Reddy with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. “It’s a concern for animals because the toxins produced by the bacteria particularly target the liver and nervous system.”
Reddy explained that these harmful algal blooms can be deceiving because they can look like simple pond scum or spilled paint on the surface and they thrive in warm, stagnant water…