A 10-month-old border collie puppy died after ingesting toxic blue-green algae during a visit to the Lake District, prompting a warning from its devastated owners.
Ozzy, the border collie, fell ill after playing in Coniston Water in Cumbria on Saturday, June 27, during the recent heatwave. Owner Lucy Hull, 31, said the family is heartbroken.
“It doesn't feel real. It was just a normal day. He was there one minute, and gone the next. We just can't get our heads round it,” Hull said.
How the Puppy Fell Ill
Lucy and her partner Andrew, also 31, took Ozzy paddleboarding at Coniston Water, a lake they visit regularly. The energetic puppy loved chasing waves and snapping at the water during their hour-long outing.
Afterwards, Ozzy began vomiting. The couple initially thought he had swallowed too much water, as he often vomited after hydrotherapy sessions. But Hull realised something was wrong when the vomiting continued.
“We realised he was being sick more than usual. We just felt something was off,” she said. Ozzy was sick twice during the drive home and became increasingly lethargic.
“We thought he'd just worn himself out. It got to the point where we lifted his head up and he was dribbling - his gums looked paler than usual. I said his name and he didn't even look at me,” Hull recalled. “Then he fell off the back seat and he wasn't moving. We got him out of the car and he was just floppy. He fell on the ground.”
Diagnosis of Blue-Green Algae Poisoning
Emergency vets initially ruled out water intoxication after an ultrasound found no water remaining in Ozzy's stomach. Instead, they diagnosed blue-green algae poisoning.
Coniston Mountain Rescue Team confirmed that blue-green algae is present at Coniston Water. The algae forms blooms in warm, still conditions and can appear as green or blue-green scum, streaks, or paint-like discolouration on the surface of lakes, tarns, and ponds.
The Environment Agency warns that people and animals should avoid any water with visible scum or discolouration, as some blooms produce potent toxins that can cause severe illness and death in animals. The British Veterinary Association and pet charities describe blue-green algae as highly poisonous and potentially fatal to dogs even in small amounts.
Emergency Treatment and Outcome
Vets placed Ozzy on oxygen, put him on a drip, and used a breathing machine in an effort to save him. Despite their efforts, the puppy stopped breathing completely.
“He just stopped breathing completely, but he did still have a heartbeat. But his brain hadn't had oxygen for so long that if he came round, he would be brain dead,” Hull said. “The vets told us they had tried everything.”
Ozzy died shortly after.
Warning to Other Dog Owners
The following day, despite their grief, Lucy and Andrew returned to Coniston to warn other visitors. Hull said she saw only one warning sign about blue-green algae at the lake, which she believes was too easy to miss. She is considering raising money to print additional warning posters.
“We didn't want to get out of bed - but we had to let people know. There were other dogs in the water. We spoke to every person warning them about it,” she said.
Hull added: “We feel like we let Ozzy down. But a huge amount of people have told me they'd never heard of blue-green algae poisoning.”
Veterinary Advice
Vets advise dog owners to seek emergency treatment immediately if a pet has been in suspect water and then develops symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, breathing difficulties, weakness, or collapse. Because different toxins act at different speeds, signs may appear very rapidly or be delayed, so owners should contact a vet as soon as they realise a dog may have drunk or swum in contaminated water.
