Swimmers itch dogs how to#
Swimmers itch dogs skin#

Overnight temperatures will also be warm Sunday night when readings are expected to be in the low twenties in many locales. Increasing heat over the past couple of days will peak Sunday and Monday with temperatures forecast to top off in the low to mid thirties. The most significant heat episode of the year is expected for much of Southern Ontario. J– Peterborough – Summer officially arrives on Monday, and Mother Nature is delivering weather to match the calendar. Some individuals will have no reaction.įor more information on blue-green algae, and precautions to be taken before swimming in or consuming water where there has been an algae bloom, go to and click on “My Home & Environment” to visit the webpage dedicated to blue-green algae.

Swimmers itch dogs skin#

Some individuals are sensitive to blue-green algae, and may develop a mild skin rash or eye irritation even if there is no toxin produced by the bloom. If allowed, farm animals and pets may consume large quantities of heavily contaminated water, resulting in sickness or death. Long-term consumption of water containing high levels of cyanobacterial toxins may cause neurological or liver problems. Fortunately, there have been no human deaths attributed to drinking water containing cyanobacterial toxins, but the toxins may cause headaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea. The risk to humans is primarily from drinking water that has been contaminated with toxins from a dense algae bloom. To report a blue-green algae bloom, residents are advised to contact the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change at 1-80. These blooms are not only unsightly and smelly: some species of cyanobacteria can also release poisons, called cyanobacterial toxins, when the cells that make up the bloom rupture or die.

Swimmers itch dogs how to#

“Just as we have all learned how to avoid poison ivy and sunburns, it’s important to know how to protect ourselves from blue-green algae so everyone can still safely enjoy the outdoors.”īlue-green algae are a type of bacteria, called cyanobacteria that are known for rapidly reproducing and collecting to form large, highly visible blooms throughout the water column, on the surface of water as a scum, or on the lake bottom as a mat.

“Residents should visit our website or call us for information about what to look for before swimming or consuming water if they suspect a bloom in their area,” said Atul Jain, Manager of Environmental Health Programs at PPH. To date, no reports have been received of the presence or confirmation of blue-green algae this season.

Peterborough Public Health (PPH), with the assistance of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, will follow up on blue-green algae blooms reported in lakes in Peterborough County and City area, and around Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. Peterborough Public Health is advising local residents to report and protect themselves from blue-green algae which may bloom on area lakes. J– Know the Risks and How to Protect Yourself Peterborough Public Health does not test beach water for these larvae, and therefore cannot post signage warning bathers of areas where Swimmer’s Itch may occur. For more information, visit and click on “My Home & Environment” under “Beach Testing”. Since these factors change (sometimes within a few days) the larvae responsible for Swimmer’s Itch will not always be present. Many factors must be present for Swimmer’s Itch to become a problem in water. Do not swim in areas where Swimmer’s Itch is a known problem.Do not attract water birds by feeding them near swimming areas.Do not swim or wade in shallow areas where snails are commonly found.Towel off briskly and thoroughly immediately after swimming.To reduce or avoid the development of Swimmer’s Itch: Affected persons should not scratch the rash, as secondary infections may develop. Swimmer’s Itch is not contagious, and the larvae cannot live in the swimmer’s skin. As the water evaporates, the larvae attempt to burrow into the skin, creating an itchy rash, which may develop into small reddish pimples or blisters. When swimmers emerge from the lake, the larvae are present on their wet skin. It is caused by tiny larvae in the water that can come from snails and birds. Swimmer’s Itch is often described as an itchy rash that swimmers develop after swimming in lakes and rivers. Peterborough Public Health reminds local residents to avoid swimming in areas where snails thrive to prevent exposure to larvae which cause “Swimmer’s Itch”. J– Itchy Rash Caused By Larvae Found in Shallow Waters Where Snails Abound