Is water safe for my dog to swim in? What about toxic algae?

Hello Chris. I know that the stories about this algae is very concerning. If there are areas around you where city officials have stated that this particular algae may be present, then it is a very good idea to avoid those areas with your pet. Contact with the algae can cause very serious neurological issues in pets that lead to respiratory distress and even death. There have been several cases here in my home town of Austin where people tragically lost their pets. However, if your city officials say that an area is safe, then you should be OK to let your dogs swim and drink in cleared water areas. Always check before you visit lakes and rivers for the latest health advisories. and bring water from home for your pets to drink if you are unsure of the area. Stay safe! I'm from Colorado, so say hello to those beautiful mountains for me! Please Feel free to contact me with a Consultation if you have further questions!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Those dogs are amazing! It should be okay for dogs to swim if they want to, as long as it is sunny and they have access to dry bedding/towels. For the lab with arthritis, swimming is actually great exercise as it is low impact - just be careful with her getting in and out of the pool. I hope this helps and that all is well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This can actually be quite severe of a toxicity and while it is not for sure that Jessie was exposed to it, it is certainly possible. There are several signs that can develop secondary to this toxicity. Most concerning ones are signs secondary to neurologic effects and liver failure such as melena (black stools), severe vomiting, lethargy, seizures, difficulty breathing, pale gums and/or collapse. Given that she is already acting strange, she should be evaluated by a veterinarian to start checking for any of these possibilities. I hope that she is fine and she was not actually exposed. Good luck and have a great day!

If your dog is healthy and fit you can take him for a swim even in colder days. If Spot is suffering from arthritis he may get a flare-up of painful joint(s), so it would be better to avoid getting wet. Finally, if he is Labrador or Golden Retriever he may get a condition called 'swimmers tail' which is a very painful condition of the tail. In general, I would recommdend to dry-towel Spot if you do take him for a swim in cold days.

Hello, thank you for your question about Oscar. Taking your dog to the beach can be a great way to get them outside and allow them to get exercise. Yes, generally it is safe to let Oscar into the water. However, please prevent him from drinking from the ocean as large amounts of salt water can lead to problems. Additionally, it is also important to ensure that Oscar doesn't ingest things off the beach (trash, shells, crabs, etc) as these can lead to stomach upset and often people leave litter that can be harmful to pets. Another thing to keep in mind is encountering other dog's on the beach. Hopefully only dogs that are friendly and can play nicely would be allowed to be off leash at the beach, however this is not always the case. If you see another dog or group of dog's approaching I would try to keep Oscar close to you to prevent any kind of altercation. Hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If tap water is not safe for people where you live, it is also not safe for dogs. I don't think her health will improve once you change to bottle water, but she will not be at risk of getting infections that may be caused by drinking tap water.

That is generally fine, especially considering the limited depth. Unfortunately I cannot rule out completely accidents, but these are quite rare with young and healthy dogs like Max. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.