ATTENTION CORVALLIS/ALBANY AREA DOG OWNERS! RE: MacDONALD FOREST

Notice from the Oregon Fish & Wildlife:

ATTENTION CORVALLIS-AREA DOG OWNERS:

We are aware of at least a few dogs who have gotten sick after being in MacDonald forest in Corvallis. What is known thus far was communicated by Corvallis Running Club members and OSU Forestry:

Three dogs drank from a muddy pool and then developed an apparent neurotoxicity. Signs included non-localized pain, a hunched posture, reluctance to move, rear legs more affected, and tachypnea. at the peak of the affliction (6 hours post-exposure), two dogs were recumbent. Signs rapidly dissipated 12 - 16 hours after exposure. The third dog has been affected twice, so it appears to be a point source. One dog drank out of Oak Creek, and started showing symptoms near Price Peak on Starker [private forest property]. There is a pond there as well.

[FYI - Oak Creek runs through Bald Hill Natural Area behind the Benton Co. fairgrounds – a very popular dog-walking area]
OSU vet school reported seeing similar cases, and with liver toxicity and had a death from liver failure.

Some ideas floating around are: herbicide, toxic plant (stinging nettle?), blue-green algae, mushrooms, tetrodotoxin in the water from increased newt activity.

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And here is a related story from the Corvallis Gazette-Times:  OSU researchers, vets report dogs have become sick after visit to McDonald Forest

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Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Marine Resources Program
2040 SE Marine Science Drive
Newport, OR 97365
Ph: 541.867.0300 ext. 246
Fax: 541.867.0311