Dog owners warn toxic algal bloom making pets sick while visiting SA beaches

Dog owners are fearful the state’s toxic algal bloom is making their pets sick with one owner saying her dog bled from the gums after coming into contact with the harmful algae.

Laura Brzezinski's dogs Florence and Gigi had a reaction to the algal bloom at Middleton Beach in April. Picture: Supplied

Dog owners have raised the alarm over concerns the toxic algal bloom is making their pets violently ill.

Adelaide resident Laura Brzezinski said her dogs had the “worst reaction” to the algae - which has decimated marine life - while on holiday in Middleton, including bleeding from the gums.

“No sooner had we stepped onto the beach, both started sneezing, one worse than the other,” Ms Brzezinski told The Advertiser.

“The sneezes were continuous and did not allow for any respite.

“I took hold of one dog and noticed he had blood down his neck.”

The mother-of-two said she immediately took the dogs home, but they continued to have fits of sneezing for hours afterwards.

“Once they (the dogs) had left the beach my mum and I also noticed that our eyes were getting irritated and the smell was also overbearing,” she said.

“Had I not got them (the dogs) off the beach instantly I swear they would have died then and there.”

Semaphore local Patsy Heywood said she still walks her two dogs — Mac the Border Collie-Kelpie cross and Elvis the Noodle — daily along the beach, but is extra cautious.

“Although it’s distressing to see the amount and variety of dead sea life on the beach, I still take my dogs daily,” she said.

“I did contact my local vet and he advised that the toxins in the dead fish won’t affect the dogs, but the dogs may suffer from bad gastro from eating dead fish.

“So I just keep the dogs on a lead — and on most days I have been filling up a few doggy poo bags with dead fish on my walks.”

Dog owner Tiffany Koek (left) said she was unaware the algal bloom could be dangerous – pictured with Daisy the rescue Dachshund and friend Eliie Teitzel. Picture: Emma Brasier

Barossa dog owner Tiffany Koek, 22, said she hadn’t realised the bloom could pose such a serious threat.

“I now worry about taking my dog to the beach, especially if the algal is something that could put her health in danger,” she said.

“It certainly makes me reconsider where I’m walking her. If it’s harmful for our dogs to be walking near then I can only imagine the large effects it must be having on our sea life.”

A spokesperson from Seaside Vet Surgery in Wallaroo said symptoms of algal poisoning in dogs included vomiting or diarrhoea, weakness, collapse or seizures, excessive drooling and trouble breathing.

Patsy Heywood from Semaphore said she still walks her two dogs — Mac the Border Collie-Kelpie cross and Elvis the Noodle — daily along the beach, but takes precautions. Picture: Emma Brasier

The Department for Environment and Water said dog owners should keep their pets under control on beaches, and prevent them from eating dead or dying fish, which can cause illness.

“Do not let your dog swim in discoloured water and foam, or where marine life is dead or in poor health,” a July 11 algal bloom update read.

This comes after a deceased great white shark washed up on a rocky stretch of Southern Yorke Peninsula coastline, Monday morning.

Photos of the carcass were shared by Shark Watch South Australia.

Originally published as Dog owners warn toxic algal bloom making pets sick while visiting SA beaches