Poisonous Water At Mabprachan Lake

[Mobi]

I usually take my Golden to Mabprachan Lake around 3 times a week to give her a swim. However I haven't been there for a few weeks as it has been very hot - for me and the dog.

Then yesterday, I read the following letter in Pattaya today:

Problems at Mabprachan lake

I believe there is a serious water problem at Mabprachan lake. The death of my Great Dane, Jet, and my other Dane Pinto’s current sickness may only be the tip of an iceberg as this water borne protozoa is an indiscriminate killer of humans too. See more on the website www.historyofwaterfilters.com/protozopa.html After swimming only the one time in their lives at Mabprachan on Sunday March 4, both dogs were later diagnosed with Giardia and Cryptosporidium protozoa by my local animal hospital and also by Thonglor animal hospital in Bangkok. By that time, Jet had died after being terribly ill and in great pain for 29 hours. It should be noted that both dogs drank only bottled water at home, not tap water, and the land where we live is free of any stagnant water or pools. The vet has been to the house and seen no danger points there to take responsibility for the illness. I realise that it’s a natural thing to want to blame somebody after a loved one passes on, but our family feels the water at Mabprachan lake may be to blame. WE want to publicise this so that other families do not suffer the loss of a beloved animal, or even a precious child owing to contamination of the water.

This is very worrying, and it could be that my laziness and need to evade the hot sun may have saved my dog's life.

Does anyone else have any knowledge or experience of this, and do they think this will be an ongoing problem?

BTW there are also people (kids and adults) canoeing on the lake. Maybe they should be careful not to drink any of the water.

[bina]

most likely locals (people and animals) have resistance to giardia lamlia; we have it in israel and most of us get it; very few treat it (the treatment is flagyl antibiotic); therefore, we become resistant to it (it stays with us but the flareups are far and few between). the same as animals. however, young, old and immune resisitant animals and people do have to be treated or they can die. they die from dehydration like most dysentery type diseases (diahreah, blood in stool, vomiting etc.).

and its not a poison. just a parasitic type protozoa.

with us it causes our kids to have terrible stomach pains but they do go away.

to drink giardia filled water u must boil (not in an electric kettle, but really boil) the water at least ten minutes before use. at a good rolling boil.

crypto is coccidiosis . for animals the sulpha antibiotics treat well as well as vitamin shots or pills; as does good easily absorbed diet. coccidiosis causes scarring in the intestine of the animal and prevents good absorbtion of nutrients. some animals are asymptomatic with cocci. just staying skinny. others may have some diahrea and thats that. once u have coccid. in the soil, it stays even for a few years; therefore good pasture managment and water managment is needed.

again, immune compromisted people, elderly, and young are at risk.

coccidiosis is also a zoonoses from goats/chickens etc... and can wipe out a young herd of ruminants or chicks. therefore, many feeds incorporate antibiotics in the food for them. which u in turn eat as meat....

i work with animals (as u know) and this is a common disease among herds etc.;

children are susceptible and can infect one an other with both these diseases which are also commonly found in kindergarten bathroom areas/food areas where children are just learning toilet hygiene and the nannies dont take care of washing hands with liquid soap, etc., not just water. in israel in kindergartens children cannot play in kiddy pools do to this problem; each child has his own mini pool (large plastic bucket thing) unless there is a filtered/treated swimming pool.

p.s. great danes are susceptible to intestinal disorders as they are giant dogs and are prone to torsion which can be caused by many things.

but i wouldnt get hysterical about this stuff there are worse water born diseases in thailand in the lakes which are not easy to diagnose or treat. (bilharzia Schistosomes is one that comes to mind)

forgot to add: giardia is spread by infected animals such as deer in america; in other countries spread by other grazing animals: goats/cows etc....

bina

israel

p.s. dont give your dogs bottled water!!! let them build up their natural immunity as much as possible. after all, they put all sorts of things in their mouths so they are exposed to much more bacteria et al then u. and they need the exposure from a decent early age. if they are used to bottled water and tehn suddenly get exposed, well, there immune system etc cant really cope.

Edited April 3, 2007 by bina

[MsFigure]

It can't be that bad considering all the people that I see swimming, washing and fishing there everyday.

Sad news about the danes though.

[Mobi]

Hey Bina,

You seem to be an expert on this.

First of all I don't give my dog bottled water, she drinks the city supply, and anywhere else she happens upon water, like plant drip trays, rain water, even the swimming pool or whatever.

cookie has been swimming in the lake since she was about 8 months old (she is now 20 months), and absolutely loves it and has never shown any symptoms of being ill. She is a healthy dog, and looks fine, and the swimming keeps her fit and gives her vulnerable joints lots of exercise.

I was up at the lake yesterday, and it seems difficult to believe that such a huge body of rippling water (which is not in the least stagnant - in fact it is virtually tidal)) contains life threatening bacteria or whatever.

It seems such a shame to deprive Cookie of her favourite pastime, but I'd hate her to get sick, and would never forgive myself.

Two great danes got sick - one died, but we don't know for sure it had anything to do with the lake. I have not heard or seen of any other problems.

Any suggestions? Should I take a chance and let her swim again, or maybe wait for the rainy season to freshen the water up?

[bina]

stagnant has nothing to do with it; sometimes dirty looking water is drinkable (potable).

at one time, we used to drink water from lakes in maine state (usa); at least 25 yrs ago if not more, cant remember now, warnings were put out not to drink the water without boiling as all or almost all lakes had been infected with giardia which was spread by the local deer population and toilet habits of hikers (peeing shitting in or near water sources, etc)....

U CANNOT TELL IF WATER IS SAFE JUST CAUSE IT IS CLEAR RUNNING WATER; the majority of our local springs here in jerusalem are unsafe as drinking water although goat herds and wild animals do drink from them and people take dips in them; chemical runoff from farming; sewage leakage due to water table problems, giardia, e.coli, etc all cause unsafe water. and the water is beautiful clean looking cold clear and enticeing on a hot summer desert day after a long hike.

our own spring is only good for irrigation emergencies and bathing; never drink the stuff.

a mature healthy dog shouldnt have problems with giardia; chances are, she could already have had it (diahrrea) and is maybe a carrier. a stool sample can show it as far as i know. most carriers, like with salmonella, are asymptomatic and are only symptomatic when young , old, ill or immune compromised, same as people.

water quality awareness is only natural when u live in a country that doesnt have any.... we run our own purification plant for irrigation water as we try to be as green as possible; we protect our springs as much as possible, and we constantly deal with environmental problems like runoff and waste disposal from dairy cow sheds and the petting zoo. even professional large scale composting (using dead chickens, chicken waste, dairy cow waste,e tc) causes water table problems so our large scale composting for the orchards has been stopped for the moment. i'm pretty certain thailand ahs pretty poor water management so i wouldnt touch any water except for rain water or bottled for drinking; as for swimming, dogs, ok., me, no way.

bina

Edited April 10, 2007 by bina

[kurgen]

I said on the other thread running about this problem that the water was green, smelly and salty.

For the last week I have noticed whilst kayaking that the water is now much clearer, doesn't smell and the saltyness has gone.

I take it this is due to the amount of rain we've had in the last week, but whatever it's down to it's good news.

There is still alot of floating lumps of moss/algae but I'm pretty sure this is due to the huge auger that's sucking the silt up from the bottom and the floating digger that's removing all the old trees and bushes that grew during last years drought.

So Mr Mobi-1-Kanobi bring your doggie down to the lake for her swim. As someone who is on the lake daily ,I now pronounce her open for use.

Look me in one of my three eyes and I'll tell you I've had no side effects or problems from kayaking on the lake.

[Mobi]

So Mr Mobi-1-Kanobi bring your doggie down to the lake for her swim. As someone who is on the lake daily ,I now pronounce her open for use.

Thanks Kurgen, I might just do that.

See you at the Fishermans.