08/10/2026
🌿🐾 Does Algae Pose a Risk to Your Pet? 🐾🌿
With the heat and standing water we see around the Keys, algae can show up quickly in ponds, puddles, canals, and other waterways — and some types can be extremely dangerous to pets.
In this week’s Keys Life column, Dr. Doug explains why you can’t determine whether algae is toxic just by looking at it and why prevention is the safest approach.
If water is covered with algae:
🐾 Don’t allow your pet to swim in or drink from it
🐾 Keep them away from suspicious standing water
🐾 If they walk through algae-filled water, rinse their feet with clean, cool water as soon as possible
When in doubt, keep them out.
📰 Featured in the August 6, 2026 edition of the Keys Citizen