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SICK OR BE DEADL TOXIC ALGAE IN MILWAUKEE’S VETERANS PARK LAGOON COULD KILL YOUR DOG. MILWAUKEE VETERINARIAN DR. ELISE WABISZEWSKI SAYS PET OWNERS NEED TO BE AWARE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS IN MANY WISCONSIN LAKES. >> IT’S SCARY BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU’RE TAKING YOUR PET OUT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AT THE LAKE. BUT IF THEY GET INTO THIS, IT CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. TOXIC ALGAE HAS KILLED AT LEAST FIVE DOGS IN RECENTS DAYS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATE -- THE UNITED STATES. >> IT CAN CAUSE ANYTHING FRO LIKE GI SIGNS, SO VOMITING AND DIARRHEA, TO SEIZURES. AND ACTUALLY DEATH AS WELL. >> THERE ARE WARNING SIGNS POSTED AT MILWAUKEE’S VETERANS PARK LAGOON WHERE WE FOUND EMILY WALKING HER PUPPY NAMED GHOST. WERE YOU AWARE OF THE TOXIC ALGAE? >> NO. NOT AT ALL. WE TRY TO KEEP HIM AWAY FROM FRESH WATER FOR NOW BECAUSE HE’S SO LITTLE. BUT IT WASN’T AWARE OF THIS. >> BETH BUETTNER AND HER KIDS JOINED OTHERS PEDDLING ON THE LAGOON TODAY WHERE THE COUNTY IS NO LONGER ALLOWING PADDLEBOARD AND KAYAK RENTALS BECAUSE OF THE RISK. >> WE JUST PADDLE BOATED IN THE SWAN. SO WE WERE NOT JUMPING IN. SO I HAVE NO CONCERNS FOR US. I MEAN WE WOULDN’T HAVE OUR DOG JUMP IN THERE. >> SO IF YOUR DOG GETS SICK AFTER THEY’VE BEEN IN A LOCAL POND OR LAKE. >> I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND HAVING THEM SEEN BY A VETERINARIAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. JOYCE: ARE THERE OTHER BODIES OF WATER WHERE PEOPLE AND PETS ARE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF TOXIC ALGAE? >> TOXIC ALGAE CAN BLOOM AT ANY TIME, ESPECIALLY LATE SUMMER. MADISON-AREA BEACHES WERE CLOSED BY HEALTH OFFICIALS EARLIER THIS SUMMER. SO FAR, IT HASN’T IMPACTED BEACHES HERE ON LAKE MICHIGA

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Toxic algae is killing dogs, and veterinarians are warning pet owners to be on guard. Veterans Park lagoon is one of the Wisconsin bodies of water that has tested positive for toxic algae, and if people or animals swallow the water it can make them very sick or be deadly. A Milwaukee veterinarian, Dr. Elise Wabiszewski, said pet owners need to be aware blue-green algae blooms in many Wisconsin lakes. "It's scary because you think you're taking your pet out to have a good time at the lake, but if they get into this it can be a very serious problem," Wabiszewski said. Toxic algae has killed at least five dogs in recent days in other parts of the United States. "So it can cause anything from like GI (gastrointestinal) signs, so vomiting and diarrhea, to seizures and actually, death as well," Wabiszewski said. There are warning signs posted at Milwaukee’s Veterans Park lagoon where WISN 12 News found a woman walking her puppy. “Were you aware of the toxic algae?” WISN 12 News reporter Terry Sater asked her. “No, not at all. We try to keep him away from fresh water for now because he's so little. But it wasn't (because) of this,” she said. Beth Buettner and her children joined others peddling on the lagoon Thursday, where the county is no longer allowing paddleboard and kayak rentals because of the risk. "We just paddle boated in the swan, so we were not jumping in. I have no concerns for us. I mean, we wouldn't have our dog jump in there," Buettner said. If your dog does get sick after being in a lake or pond, Wabiszewski recommends having them seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Are there other bodies of water where people and pets are in danger because of toxic algae? Blooms can happen at any time especially late summer. Health officials closed several beaches earlier this summer in Madison, but so far it hasn't affected beaches on Lake Michigan.