Stagnant doggy drinking water

[catfancier]

It's so great to hear that you are all so pro-active in keeping your pets' bowls clean. I work for a pet-sitting company and more often than not unfortunately, the drinking bowls are stagnant and have the slimy green algae in them.

I have read articles about the toxic blue-green algae that grows in lakes and ponds and can't imagine what it must be like for an owner to lose their dog so quickly.

I imagine that the green algae that does grow in water bowls is the same type that grows in fish tanks, and is stimulated to grow by the sunlight. I understand that green algae grows when there is too much sunlight and brown algae grows when there is not enough.

I try to make sure that my clients keep their pets drinking bowls clean and avoid the green algae, but I'm still not 100% sure if the green algae would actually be harmful to them.
I imagine that if it got to a point where the bowl was coated in the algae, it could cause stomach upsets or diarrhoea but as yet I haven't actually seen any proof of this, hence why I'm asking.

Can anyone give a definitive answer as to what the presence of green algae could lead to?
And once again, I am so glad that you all provide only the best care for your wonderful fur-babies.

[moosmom]

I've emailed my brother who is a Chemical Engineer. I'll let you know what he has to say.

I've googled it and get tons of sites that SELL devices to prevent algae. So that was basically no help.