Lucy very unwell

heartbreak_star

Made me chuckle too Maybe a cool flannel also?

HBS x

zaksmum

I got some aloe vera and put that on Lucy's legs. She seems to be leaving them alone now so thanks for the tip.

She's continuing to improve. The vet rang again to ask how she was - says there have been even more cases of dogs made ill after going in water and apparently our local park has closed off it's lake because of the presence of blue-green algae. The council has been forced to put up signs saying that it's toxic to humans and animals and can even be fatal to dogs.

The lake has railings around it and a gate, which has now been locked, but an agile dog could easily jump the railings and get to the water.

I'd never even heard of this stuff before Lucy got ill. I'm so concerned that in this heatwave, owners will think they are helping their dogs to keep cool by letting them go in lakes, rivers and streams.

The reality is that their dog could die within a very short time of having contact with this algae.

I'm incredibly thankful to still have my Lucy with me and so grateful to all you lovely people on here for your support over the last few days.

chucknorris

zaksmum wrote: »

I'd never even heard of this stuff before Lucy got ill. I'm so concerned that in this heatwave, owners will think they are helping their dogs to keep cool by letting them go in lakes, rivers and streams.

Are you sure rivers are also unsafe? I usually swim my lab in a local lake except in July/Aug and early Sept when I swim him in the river instead as I thought that blue green algae is found only/mainly in ponds and lakes rather than free flowing rivers.


http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/bites-and-stings/Pages/Safe-swimming.aspx

zaksmum

chucknorris wrote: »

Are you sure rivers are also unsafe? I usually swim my lab in a local lake except in July/Aug and early Sept when I swim him in the river instead as I thought that blue green algae is found only/mainly in ponds and lakes rather than free flowing rivers.


http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/bites-and-stings/Pages/Safe-swimming.aspx

I only know what the vet told me, that it's present in many rivers too.

Lucy was in a river when she became ill - a free flowing river, but muddy. The vet said it's around the edges of rivers so maybe some big rivers might be safe and perhaps smaller ones are not? And apparently it's more widespread during a period of hot weather.

I'm not taking any chances though. My dogs can cool off with water from the hosepipe from now on. If I'd known this stuff was potentially fatal to dogs I'd never have allowed them anywhere near it.

dandelionclock30

chucknorris wrote: »

Are you sure rivers are also unsafe? I usually swim my lab in a local lake except in July/Aug and early Sept when I swim him in the river instead as I thought that blue green algae is found only/mainly in ponds and lakes rather than free flowing rivers.


http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/bites-and-stings/Pages/Safe-swimming.aspx

I know for a fact some are much cleaner than others.However you have to be careful because there is various parasites in the water that can cause diarreah and sickness and humans can get weils disease as well.
I know 2 people who have had sickness and 1 who ended up in hospital with weils and they were seriously ill.
I personally would be taking my dog elcewhere as its not worth it in my opinion. Also if your in water yourself then always wash your hands before eating anything.

zaksmum

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

I know for a fact some are much cleaner than others.However you have to be careful because there is various parasites in the water that can cause diarreah and sickness and humans can get weils disease as well.
I know 2 people who have had sickness and 1 who ended up in hospital with weils and they were seriously ill.
I personally would be taking my dog elcewhere as its not worth it in my opinion. Also if your in water yourself then always wash your hands before eating anything.

The vet did mention Weil's Disease - it's from rat's urine but Lucy has been vaccinated against that so there was no chance it would've caused her to be so ill. I didn't know humans can get it though.

scaredy_cat

Lucy needs her own paddling pool!!!

dandelionclock30

zaksmum wrote: »

The vet did mention Weil's Disease - it's from rat's urine but Lucy has been vaccinated against that so there was no chance it would've caused her to be so ill. I didn't know humans can get it though.

OO yeah and you can die of it as well I think. If you ever get taken into hospital with a bad illness after being in water then you have to tell them you could have got weils.
I remember reading about someone who nearly died from it because the hospital didnt treat him for that, they treated him for something elce instead.

Paradigm

It's very unlikely to be Leptospirosis or Weils (pretty much the same thing) as it generally takes 4-6 days to show any symptoms of illness.

Obviously it can't be ruled out but algae toxin would act much quicker... within 24hrs of Lucy being in the water & that's where my money would go.

Just a bit of info... your annual Lepto vaccination may become ineffective in as little as 6 months depending on the vaccine used.

zaksmum

Paradigm wrote: »

It's very unlikely to be Leptospirosis or Weils (pretty much the same thing) as it generally takes 4-6 days to show any symptoms of illness.

Obviously it can't be ruled out but algae toxin would act much quicker... within 24hrs of Lucy being in the water & that's where my money would go.

Just a bit of info... your annual Lepto vaccination may become ineffective in as little as 6 months depending on the vaccine used.

The vet reckons it's definitely the algae. In 24 hours she went from being fine to dreadfully ill.

Even though she's an old dog (nearly 12) she has a tremendous appetite and is happy and healthy.

To see her deteriorate so quickly shocked me and I felt so helpless, especially as she was desperate for water but couldn't keep it down.

I couldn't imagine what had made her so ill but the vet said immediately that it would've been the algae.

I was convinced she would die and I'm so thankful she's improving.

Why would the leptospirosis vaccine become ineffective after 6 months if they only give it annually though?