Fermanagh dog deaths: Vet warns of lake algae danger

Four dogs who died in County Fermanagh may have come into contact with a toxic algae that bloom in lake water during hot weather, a vet has warned.

Aoife Ferris of Lakeland Veterinary Services said four dogs have died at the surgery since Tuesday.

The dogs had either been in the water or on the shoreline at Lough Melvin, a lake on the border with County Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland.

Ms Ferris said the deaths may have been caused by toxic blue-green algae.

"Dogs are obviously very warm in this weather but I would urge any dog owner not to let their pet near any stagnant, lake water," she told BBC News NI.

Blue-green algae is a term used to describe a group of cyanobacteria.

They often bloom in lakes and ponds during hot weather, and can be fatal to dogs.

The bacteria produce toxins which stops the liver from functioning.

In some cases, symptoms - including vomiting, seizures and sudden collapse - can appear just 15 minutes after drinking contaminated water.

Ms Ferris said all four dogs to have died became unwell quite quickly and displayed symptoms consistent with having ingested the algae.

Dog owners need to be extra cautious around lake water, she added.

She said algae are not always visible to the naked eye.

"Sometime you will see a sludge around the shoreline but the algae can also be very subtle. We have made the authorities aware of the deaths so hopefully we will see testing done on the water," she said.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency said an investigation for evidence of water pollution was carried out after the deaths of two dogs on Wednesday and Friday.

"No visual evidence of an algal bloom or any other signs of water pollution were detected," the agency said.

"As a precautionary measure samples have been collected for algal analyses."

It said Fermanagh and Omagh District Council had been notified of the reports, and as Lough Melvin is a cross border lake, authorities in Republic of Ireland had also been informed.

"Dog owners should be aware of the dangers posed by poisonous plants and algae growing in the environment, but especially along riverbanks and in wet grassland or edges of lakes," it said.

Source: British Veterinary Association

In a statement, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said: "The council recommends that residents, visitors and their pets avoid entering the water at Lough Melvin in Garrison.

"A social media message to this effect has been communicated on the council's Facebook page. The council will continue to share updates as they become available."