Swimming Dogs and Ear Infections

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has asked us for assistance in an important public health surveillance effort. It is important that we bring to your attention the possible dangers lurking below the cool, calm waters that our pets love to swim in during this hot summer season.  Of course, our pets do need to cool off from time to time with a wild romp in the refreshing rivers, lakes and streams of New England, but there may be important safety concerns to take into consideration before allowing your pet to scamper on.  The Bureau of Environmental Health is very concerned about the water quality and the potential consequences that may result from swimming in and ingesting contaminated water.

Ear infections, also known as swimmer’s ear, are one of the more common complications that arises from allowing our animals to swim. Bacterial contamination in water that sits in the ear canal after swimming causes irritation to the tightly folded skin in the external ear canal.  Then the bacterial invasion begins, causing pain and swelling until treatment is administered.

Giardia is a tiny little one-celled parasitic protozoan that can cause some serious illness.  It has a very quick onset and the Giardia cysts (eggs) are found in feces and water sources contaminated with the feces of infected animals.  Once ingested by the dog, the cysts open and discharge the adult form of the protozoan, a pear-shaped critter with whip-like flagella (tail) that propel it through the intestine. Even if the animal is healthy they will continue to multiply and can cause debilitating disease unless the animal is treated.  Giardia can interfere with the absorption of food and produce feces that are soft, light-colored, and greasy, or even liquid diarrhea.  Mucus discharge on stool may also indicate that the large intestine is irritated.  If you suspect that your animal has come in contact with a contaminated water source and may have Giardia, you should inform your veterinarian and submit a fecal sample to be tesed for the protozoan.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is also caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals.  Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium. They may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms, making the disease particularly hard to track.  Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, shaking, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.  If the disease is not treated the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. In rare cases death occurs.  If you suspect that your animal has come into contact with water contaminated with Leptospirum bacterium, contact your veterinarian immediately as laboratory testing can be done to confirm infection.

In 2008 the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) began addressing health concerns associated with harmful algae blooms (HABs) commonly known as “blue-green algae”.  For pet and animal exposure purposes the concern is regarding exposure to freshwater HABs, which can occur through direct contact of body parts to water containing algae, swallowing water containing algae, or even inhaling water droplets containing algae.  The algae produce toxins that affect the animal’s internal organs and, depending on the concentration of algae in the dog’s stomach, there have even been fatalities reported.  Dogs, in particular, have been known to eat the algae scum that washes ashore.  Symptoms include skin and eye irritation, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, salivation, staggering, difficulty breathing, convulsions and in rare cases death.

They are called zoonotic pathogens, meaning they affect multiple species of animals … yes … humans are animals too!  If diagnosed, the instances of Leptospirosis and Blue Green Algae Toxicity in particular are required to be reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

The purpose of this article is not to discourage swimming but rather to encourage safe summer fun.  Make sure to check out the local watering hole and just remember to be careful.

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Giardia in Dogs by Maggie Fisher, BVetMed, MRCVS; at Vet On-Line, (http://www.priory.com/vet.htm) a service of Priory Lodge Education Limited.

Blue Green Algae Toxicity in Dogs Initial Author: Kelly
Recent Contributors: Debbie Vasen http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Blue_Green_Algae_Toxicity_in_Dogs

MA Department of Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health http://www.mass.gov/dph/environmental_health