LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The county of Lake reported that laboratory tests conducted to determine why a dog that had been swimming in a south county creek suddenly became sick and died have yielded inconclusive results.

The dog died in late August following a brief severe illness that began immediately after swimming in the Putah Creek area, as Lake County News has reported.

Although no prior cyanobacteria-related animal deaths had been confirmed in this area, local water and health officials were concerned cyanobacteria may be the cause.

The county reported than an investigation was launched, which included testing of water at the incident site, water as far as a mile downstream and biological samples from the deceased animal.

Water samples from the incident area were collected and delivered to the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians for cyanobacteria identification, preliminary testing and toxin analysis.

With the permission of the family, the body of the dog was sent to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at UC Davis for testing of the stomach contents and some body tissue, and complex tests were performed looking for anatoxin and microcystin, specific cyanobacteria toxins. Testing included mass spectrometry.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment performed its own evaluation of the incident, as well.

Because the dog’s symptoms could have been caused by a toxin from algae, local and state groups have helped in evaluating the cause of the animal’s death and level of concern for that location.

The county said the testing did not detect any of the common types of cyanobacteria toxins in the body of water where the incident reportedly occurred or in the animal tissues.

Although no evidence of toxins was found, county officials said testing did not conclusively rule out an algae-related cause.

The results are inconclusive regarding cyanotoxin as the cause of this dog’s death, officials said.

Accumulations of cyanobacteria are a common and familiar sight in all freshwater lakes, ponds, creeks and streams.

Most frequently visible as green, soup-like water, oily-appearing surface scum or foamy mats, blue-green algae – or cyanobacteria – tends to flourish or collect in sunny areas where water is shallow and undisturbed, or in locations where wind and currents cause surface blooms to collect.

Pets, such as dogs, are particularly at risk. Because they are not deterred by the disagreeable odors of decaying algal mats, they are prone to swallowing water while swimming, and they can also ingest cyanobacteria while self-cleaning their coat following contact with the water. Contact with visible algal blooms should be avoided.

If an animal becomes sick or dies suddenly after recreating in any body of water, please call and/or take the animal to a veterinarian and call your local health department.

In Lake County, report such incidents to Lake County Health Services, Public Health Division, at 707-263-1090.