Officials are alerting family pet owners about algae found in a pond at a popular New Jersey dog park that might be fatal to animals.
On Monday, Camden County authorities were alerted after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) verified a “moderate health level risk” in Timber Creek Pond at Timber Creek Dog Park in Gloucester Township.
Officials said they discovered cyanobacteria – likewise called blue-green algae – in the pond. Cyanobacteria is a tiny organism discovered naturally in all sort of water that in some cases proliferates out of control. When the algae blossoms, it can produce contaminants that are fatal for animals when consumed.
“Once they’ve been exposed, either eating or drinking the contaminated water it can be fatal within 30 minutes to several hours,” Dr. Cassie Janson, a veterinary criticalist at Mt. Laurel Animal Hospital, informed NBC10.
Dr. Janson said direct exposure to the algae puts them at danger for liver toxicity or neurotoxicity
“You might see things like convulsions, seizures, tremors, paralysis or collapse,” Dr. Janson said.
County authorities published indications close by alerting family pet owners to not let their animals swim in or consume from the pond.
“With this confirmation, we have set up signs around the pond to alert visitors of the situation,” Camden County health officer Paschal Nwako said. “We are working to explore treatments for the lake to avoid this happening in future seasons but for now, please keep pets away from the pond.”
The county Parks Department will deal with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension to identify methods to “resolve the bloom in the pond,” authorities said. Mike Haberland, a scientist with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, informed NBC10 there are methods to rapidly eliminate the algae.
“There are various products we can apply to the water surface that settle down to the bottom,” Haberland said.
The DEP would need to very first authorize any prospective treatment for the algae.
Owners of animals that might have been exposed to the algae ought to call a vet if their family pet has the following signs:
- Loss of energy
- Loss of hunger
- Vomiting
- Stumbling and falling
- Foaming at the mouth
- Diarrhea
- Convulsions
- Excessive drooling
- Tremors and seizures
- Any inexplicable illness that takes place within a day or two after touching with water
If you have any extra concerns about cyanobacterial contaminant poisoning, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
