Tuesday, September 15, 2009

A Bad Kind of Bloom


I recently received some information from the state veterinarian's office about a blue-green algae (Cyanobacter) bloom in Pleasant Lake near Fairfield. While that won't likely affect any of us algae blooms can occur in any body of water and can be a threat to people and pets. The report stated that "Blue-green algae blooms can occur in warm, slow moving waters that are rich in nutrients such as fertilizer runoff or septic tank overflows. Blooms can occur in late summer or early fall. Within a few days a bloom can cause clear water to become cloudy. The blooms usually float to the surface and can be many inches thick, especially near the shoreline. Microcystin toxin is released by the algae. Both humans and animals can get microcystin poisoning from exposure to contaminated water. Animals can get sick if they have been swimming in water where algae blooms have been and ingest significant amounts of water containing microcystim toxin by licking themselves after leaving the water. In addition, animals can be exposed to fatal doses of microcystin toxin if they drink from the water's edge where scum layers accumulate." Microcystin is a liver toxin. Symptons can include weakness, reluctance to move, lack of appetite, pale mucous membranes (eg. gums, conjunctiva) confusion and/or behavior changes, acute liver failure and/or death.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Blossom 3-1-92 to 9-2-09


Blossom came to us in August 2006 to be euthanized because her previous owner was moving and didn't want to take her with her. She was 14 but in good health. We couldn't seem to get the euthanasia solution out of the lock box. After a few days we called the previous owner and got permission to find a home for her. She adapted well to life at the clinic. In December a lady expressed interest in her so we adopted her out thinking a home home rather than a clinic home would be nice. In a few days the lady called us saying that the cat had "invisible mites" that were biting her so Blossom came back to the clinic to live out her days.


A couple weeks ago she developed a serious infection that despite antibiotics her old body couldn't fight off. We had to get the euthansia solution out of the box and put her to sleep last Wednesday.


Thanks to all of you who gave her a little attention when you were here and we apologize to those pets who got too close that she wacked with her clawless paws. She never got over the idea that this was her clinic and all of the pets that came in every day were intruders.