Flint Lead Crisis May Be Affecting Dogs

FLINT, MI – The Flint water crisis appears to be affecting the animal kingdom.

Dr. James Averill, the Michigan state veterinarian, told WWJ Radio that two dogs have tested positive for lead toxicity in the Flint area in the past six months. There hasn’t been a case of canine lead poisoning in five years, the vet said.

One of the dogs was a stray, the other a family pet. Neither has died.

Averill didn’t disclosed the symptoms the dogs displayed, how much lead they had in their systems or if it has been officially determined that they drank the contaminated water in Flint. The “vast majority” of Flint dogs tested for lead toxicity have had negative results, he said.

Flint switched its water from Lake Huron to the Flint River in 2014 while under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager. The corrosive water from the river caused lead in aging pipes to leach, exposing an unknown number of children to dangerous levels of lead that could cause irreversible brain damage.

Dogs are at a higher risk than other mammals for lead poisoning, “but it’s not that common,” Averill said. Most mammal lead poisoning cases in the state deal with cattle, he said.

He advised Flint and Genesee County residents to take the same precautions for their pets as they do for themselves, including testing water to determine lead levels and, depending on what they indicate, running water through a filter.

Pet owners should watch for signs of lead poisoning, such as abnormal behavior, and then contact their veterinarian.

» Cindy Funk via Flickr