Flint Water Crisis Causes Lead Toxicity in Man's Best Friend, Too: Blood Tests

FLINT, MI – The tentacles of the Flint water crisis and public health catastrophe, which caused high blood-lead levels in children and may have contributed to a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, may have ensnared new victims: Flint pets that lapped the toxic water from their bowls.

Professors, students and technicians from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine who volunteered to draw blood from Flint dogs at screening events have so far documented seven cases of lead toxicity among 266 dogs tested, the Associated Press reports.

Flint has been under a state of emergency since January because of decisions made in 2014 to draw water from the Flint River instead of the cleaner Lake Huron, one of a series of cost-cutting moves while under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager.

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The more corrosive river water caused Flint’s aging lead water pipes to leach, and within two months of the change, the proportion of children with above-average levels of lead in their blood had nearly doubled, studies show.

State veterinarian Dr. James Averill said brain changes and other neurological effects may be similar in dogs and other animals as in humans, and they may develop seizures

Daniel Langlois, an assistant professor at MSU’s vet school, told the AP while staffing a pet screening clinic in Flint that while the major focus so far has rightfully been on human health, “there are a lot of pets that live in the city of Flint, and we just wanted to make sure their health wasn’t ignored.”

See Also

• ‘Little Miss Flint’ Charms a Visit from President Obama
• President Obama's Close-Up View of Flint Water Crisis: 5 Key Moments
• Flint Water Crisis Criminal Charges ‘First Wave’
• Flint Water Crisis Whistleblowers ‘TIME 100’ Honorees
• Nation's Toughest Lead Water Rules Proposed in Michigan

The best thing for pet owners to do is to make sure they drink only filtered or bottled water and make sure the toilet lid is always closed, Averill said.

If you suspect problems with your pet, call your veterinarian, Averill advised.

» The Associated Press has more on this story.

Image Credit: Screenshot from YouTube