The Environment Agency is "advising" the landowner of a Bolton park after the potential presence of a hazardous algae following the death of a dog.
Reports of the blue-green algae in ponds at Cutacre Country Park came after a dog died following a visit to the beauty spot.
Lynda Hardman was walking with her Manchester Terrier, Lexy, through the area on the evening of Friday, September 27 when she noticed her dog begin to "chew something under a bush".
Lynda, who lives in Over Hulton, said: “We set off from the Cutacre car park at about 5pm just like normal. I found an abandoned ball and was playing with Lexy.
"There is a large pond in the middle of Cutacre, so we walked around that, and I continued to play with her. At one point, and it’s usually not like her, Lexy jumped straight into the water to chase the ball.
"She was pawing at the ball and eventually grabbed it in her mouth while still in the water. Everything was normal and we continued to walk on for another mile or so."
Once the two arrived home, Lynda fed Lexy and went upstairs to get ready, it was then that she noticed her pet acting strangely.
She said: "About 10 minutes after we got home, Lexy’s legs completely buckled beneath her and she started to have a fit.
"She was a completely healthy dog, she was only two years and nine months, so she was really young and full of energy."
A panicked Lynda took Lexy to Hillcrest Vets in Chorley for an emergency appointment.
"It was the longest journey of our lives we were beside ourselves," she added.
"When I handed Lexy over to the vets, she wasn’t in a good state at all, she had nausea, and diarrhoea and her temperature had dropped massively. She couldn’t stop shaking.
"The vets told us that symptoms of algae poisoning usually take about an hour to set in, which means the timeline adds up.
"The vets couldn’t confirm it was algae poisoning, it could’ve been something she’d eaten, but because Lexy ingested the pond water only an hour before it looked likely."
The vets gave Lexy diazepam to stop the seizures, antibiotics and general anaesthetics.
Lynda said: "They discharged Lexy, but she was still twitching, she was vulnerable.
Lynda and her family remained worried about her health.
She said: "She was poorly Friday night, we didn’t think she’d make it at all because of how weak she was but they managed to stop the seizures in the early hours of the morning.
"On Saturday night, my daughter and brother went to Cutacre and had a look around and took pictures of the pond – there was so much rubbish there. Which is a problem, she could’ve eaten some of that and got sick.
“What’s hard is we’ve had nothing confirmed, we suspect the blue-green algae, but we haven’t had that closure."
On Saturday, Lexy’s symptoms appeared to get better, and vets were able to stabilise her seizures.
She was still in critical condition but was able to walk short distances and was taking in food.
However, the next day, her symptoms worsened, Lynda noted, as she had developed pneumonia and liver damage, the vets even put her on oxygen.
She said: "The next day she deteriorated really quickly on Sunday afternoon."
Despite the best efforts of the vets, Lexy died on Sunday, September 29 at 7.20pm.
Lynda said: "I want to spread the word to prevent this from happening to other dog owners – I’ve seen lots of dogs swimming in there.
“It can also be poisonous for humans, and I’ve seen people swimming in some of the other Cutacre ponds.
“If it can do that do a dog – I’d be concerned about what it can do to a person. If I can help just one person by spreading awareness, I’ll feel better.”
Lynda sent photos of the pond suspected to contain the poisonous algae to the Environment Agency.
She also shared her experience on social media to warn fellow dog owners of the issue, she has since received praised from others for speaking out about the algae.
Lynda said: “Everybody knew Lexy, I’ve had lots of messages from other dog owners saying thank you because they weren’t aware that this could be an issue.
“Lexy loved the sunshine, she used to love snuggling in blankets as most Manchester Terriers do.
“She was so young, it's one thing to lose a pet, but it’s another to lose a pet that was so young. The vets couldn’t do enough and we’re grateful for their support.”
An Environmental Agency spokesperson said: “Certain blue-green algae can produce harmful toxins that may cause rashes and serious illnesses in both humans and pets.
“Landowners should assess the risks and inform users to prevent further incidents.
“If you suspect algal blooms, please avoid contact with the water and report sightings to our incident hotline at 0800 80 70 60.”
The Environmental Agency is currently "advising the land owner" on the issue.
Earlier this month dog owners were warned to be wary around lakes and rivers due to potentially fatal toxic algae.
Blue-green algae, a group of bacteria called cyanobacteria, often resembles foam and can be found at the edges of lakes and rivers.
It can be hard to see blue-green algae unless it has collected together, therefore it can pose a risk to dogs.
The PDSA warns: "The opportunity to splash around can be hard for any pet to resist but don’t forget to be cautious of blue-green algae in early autumn.
"More prominent in warmer weather, blue-green algae is highly toxic to pets and can quickly become fatal, so if you see a blue-green layer on any body of water, avoid it entirely.
"Muddy, stagnant puddles or ponds can also give your pet a stomach upset, so it’s best to avoid these too."
When you do see large patches of blue-green algae, it’s common to see green flakes, brown dots and greenish bundles.
A spokesperson from the Howarth group, which owns some of the land on Cutacre, said: "Harworth understands there have been reports of an unfortunate incident involving a dog falling sick from potential exposure to blue-green algae in the vicinity of Cutacre Country Park.
"At this current time, Harworth has not been able to verify these reports and its local team is looking into the matter.”
More information about blue-green algae can be found at environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2022/06/22/telling-the-difference-between-an-algal-bloom-and-sewage/
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