In loving memory
"Kevin"
_________ - September 2019
_________ - September 2019
Sweet, joyful and beautiful, Kevin was one of the puppies from our 'Up!' themed litter, out of Casper.
From Kevin's beloved owner, who has asked to share Kevin's story to hopefully prevent anyone else from experiencing this tragedy:
"Last week while on a road trip, Kevin crossed the rainbow bridge. I've been torn whether to post this as I tend to keep my personal life off FB. But I've decided to share her passing to hopefully spare someone this tragedy. While stopped overnight at a campground in SE Oregon, she drank from a lake contaminated with what is known as Blue-green Algae. Two days later, without any significant signs, she passed while on the way to the vet. I had checked the lake's BLM website for dangers, but none were posted. I checked the campsite bulletin board, and nothing other than a site map was posted. Since then I have learned about Blue-green algae and that is why I'm posting this. It's present throughout the world, has many varieties and if conditions are right (warm with enough nutrients), produces a multitude of toxins, and affects humans as well. Some years no toxins are produced, other years are heavily contaminated. These toxins end up causing Liver failure within a week, but in as little time as a couple hours. They can kill, even if they aren't ingested directly, and are present and lethal even if the animal dries off. Rinsing with clean water is effective, but isn't usually at hand. There is no cure. The only hope is early detection, so the toxins can be removed and the liver spared further damage. The symptoms include Diarrhea or vomiting, Drooling, Neurologic signs such as: Weakness, Disorientation/confusion, Collapse/unconsciousness, Seizures, Breathing difficulties/excess panting. Kevin only presented panting and drooling. I didn't realize anything was amiss until she didn't eat breakfast two days later, and before I got her to the vet, not suspecting anything that bad, she'd passed. I don't want likes, condolences, ect. But please share Kevin's story so hopefully someone else doesn't share her fate.
Update 10/02/19: Thank you everyone for your words. Thank you even more for sharing her story. I'd like to answer some questions, and elaborate a little more. Kevin is female (named from the movie Up) and is a Cardigan Corgi. We stayed at Mann lake, near Steens Mountain in Oregon but this stuff is all over. Technically, it isn't an algae, but a bacterium family called cyanobacteria. I'm specific about this because a visible bloom is far beyond the level needed for lethality. Also, toxic levels are usually found in still, warm ponds and lakes near farming or ranching areas. Streams fed by a source like this are more likely to carry the toxins, but dilution further down stream reduces the risks. The bacteria is unable to propagate in flowing or salt water conditions, so most rivers and larger streams are safe from this particular risk. A final point is, as I mentioned originally, I checked for warnings online and at the campsite and found none. For all I know, state testing may have taken place earlier in the summer without the toxins being detected. Where I discovered info about the status of the lake we stayed at was online hunting and fishing forums. A search of "Blue-green algae lake mann oregon" returned results confirming what I suspected. They seem to be a more up to date community than official sources for information about specific locations you may be planning to visit. Again, thank you everyone for sharing this. It's heartening to see so many people take her loss seriously. I see that people all over the world have shared this, as far away as Denmark that I've seen so far. I wish you all well and thank you again for listening to her final bark."
From Kevin's beloved owner, who has asked to share Kevin's story to hopefully prevent anyone else from experiencing this tragedy:
"Last week while on a road trip, Kevin crossed the rainbow bridge. I've been torn whether to post this as I tend to keep my personal life off FB. But I've decided to share her passing to hopefully spare someone this tragedy. While stopped overnight at a campground in SE Oregon, she drank from a lake contaminated with what is known as Blue-green Algae. Two days later, without any significant signs, she passed while on the way to the vet. I had checked the lake's BLM website for dangers, but none were posted. I checked the campsite bulletin board, and nothing other than a site map was posted. Since then I have learned about Blue-green algae and that is why I'm posting this. It's present throughout the world, has many varieties and if conditions are right (warm with enough nutrients), produces a multitude of toxins, and affects humans as well. Some years no toxins are produced, other years are heavily contaminated. These toxins end up causing Liver failure within a week, but in as little time as a couple hours. They can kill, even if they aren't ingested directly, and are present and lethal even if the animal dries off. Rinsing with clean water is effective, but isn't usually at hand. There is no cure. The only hope is early detection, so the toxins can be removed and the liver spared further damage. The symptoms include Diarrhea or vomiting, Drooling, Neurologic signs such as: Weakness, Disorientation/confusion, Collapse/unconsciousness, Seizures, Breathing difficulties/excess panting. Kevin only presented panting and drooling. I didn't realize anything was amiss until she didn't eat breakfast two days later, and before I got her to the vet, not suspecting anything that bad, she'd passed. I don't want likes, condolences, ect. But please share Kevin's story so hopefully someone else doesn't share her fate.
Update 10/02/19: Thank you everyone for your words. Thank you even more for sharing her story. I'd like to answer some questions, and elaborate a little more. Kevin is female (named from the movie Up) and is a Cardigan Corgi. We stayed at Mann lake, near Steens Mountain in Oregon but this stuff is all over. Technically, it isn't an algae, but a bacterium family called cyanobacteria. I'm specific about this because a visible bloom is far beyond the level needed for lethality. Also, toxic levels are usually found in still, warm ponds and lakes near farming or ranching areas. Streams fed by a source like this are more likely to carry the toxins, but dilution further down stream reduces the risks. The bacteria is unable to propagate in flowing or salt water conditions, so most rivers and larger streams are safe from this particular risk. A final point is, as I mentioned originally, I checked for warnings online and at the campsite and found none. For all I know, state testing may have taken place earlier in the summer without the toxins being detected. Where I discovered info about the status of the lake we stayed at was online hunting and fishing forums. A search of "Blue-green algae lake mann oregon" returned results confirming what I suspected. They seem to be a more up to date community than official sources for information about specific locations you may be planning to visit. Again, thank you everyone for sharing this. It's heartening to see so many people take her loss seriously. I see that people all over the world have shared this, as far away as Denmark that I've seen so far. I wish you all well and thank you again for listening to her final bark."