Contact with blue-green algae toxins is suspected in the death of a dog last Sunday in Sherburne County, according to SWCD Water Resources Specialist Tiffany Determan. The dog was in the water at Prairie Lake, located north-east of Hwy 10 near Clear Lake.
The animal was immediately transported to a veterinarian for examination, Determan said, which resulted in the diagnosis of algae exposure as the probable cause of death. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency received a call on the incident on Monday night.
The lake is spring-fed, according to the dog owner, and usually has very high water quality. Determan said the recent heavy rains may have led to increased runoff of nutrients into the lake, and causing the growth of the dangerous algae. The lake has no public access, Determan said, and the dog owner had stated that he will keep his dogs and children out of the lake until the situation is resolved.
Determan took photographs and a number of water samples on Tuesday which she will be sending to the MPCA for analysis.
Blue-green algae often forms in shallow ponds or puddles in times of hot weather. Even a small amount of the toxins produced can be very harmful, and fatal, to pets that drink from contaminated outdoor sources.
