Public Health Update on Investigation of Unexplained Illness in Dogs in Venice Canals Area of City of Los Angeles
The last probable case
of the unexplained Venice-area dog
illness or death reported to the
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
was July 30, 2025.
With testing thus far, the cause of the
27 suspected canine illnesses and five canine
deaths remains undetermined. However,
limited specimens were available for testing and
some tests are still pending a result.
As part of a comprehensive investigation, Public
Health’s Veterinary Public Health program has:
- Conducted community outreach and extensive interviews with pet owners and residents
- Medical records review
- Laboratory testing
- Communicated with veterinarians and medical providers in Los Angeles County via animal health alert messages
- Communicated with the community via social media and other public messaging
Environmental Findings
As part of the investigation, the Water Quality
Control Board tested the canal water, algae and
scum. Results found the presence of toxins
produced by algae, which prompted
recommendations from the State Water Board and
Public Health that the City of Los Angeles
continue to post warning
signs per the State's harmful algae bloom
guidance and perform biweekly water quality
testing until two consecutive tests confirm that
cyanobacteria and all other toxins are below
advisory levels. A definitive link to
the dog illnesses from the presence of toxins
produced by the algae has not been confirmed.
Canal Advisory and Safety Guidance
- Avoid swimming in the canals
- Stay away from scum, foam, and cloudy or discolored water
- Do not use canal water for drinking or cooking
- Do not allow pets to enter or drink the water, or to touch or sniff algae, scum, or any debris near the water
- Avoid eating shellfish from these waters
- If you catch fish in this water, throw away fish guts (which can contain toxins), and clean and thoroughly rinse fillets with clean, fresh water. Wash your hands, tools, and any surfaces afterward. When in doubt, do not eat the fish.
Health Effects from Exposure to the Algae-related Toxins
The health effects of the toxins from the algae
vary by route of exposure. For humans, the
toxins can cause skin rashes, eye irritation,
diarrhea, and vomiting. For animals, the toxins
can cause diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions and
death.
Advice for Pet Owners and Veterinarians
Pet owners who think their pets may be sick
should seek immediate veterinary care.
Veterinarians who have relevant information
should report suspected cases to the
Veterinary Public Health Program at
(213) 288-7060 or
vet@ph.lacounty.gov.
For additional information on harmful algae
please visit:
https://mywaterquality.ca.gov/habs/index.html
🔔 Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
|
|