School testing Flint dogs for lead

FLINT, Mich. — Humans aren’t the only victims of the water crisis in Flint, as pets also might have been exposed to the toxic levels of lead. An effort coordinated by Michigan State University is now helping dogs get tested.

At the school’s College of Veterinary Medicine screening events, professors, students and technicians are volunteering to draw blood from dogs. State veterinarian James Averill said 266 dogs have been tested so far, with seven documented cases of lead toxicity.

Flint is under a state of emergency after the city, under state management, switched to using the Flint River as its water source but failed to add the proper chemical treatment. Lead from pipes leached into the water, and people and pets were exposed for months before the emergency declaration was made in October.

“The major focus so far has been on human health, and rightfully so,” Michigan State assistant professor Daniel Langlois said, “but at the same time, 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.”

Lead can cause developmental delays, learning disabilities and health problems in children. Averill said the effects are similar in animals. “(With) longer-term exposure to high levels of lead, you might start seeing neurologic or brain changes. You could get seizures,” he said of pets.

Averill said Flint’s pet owners should offer their pets only filtered or bottled water and should keep toilet lids closed. If pet owners suspect a problem, they should seek veterinary care and testing.

Dogs could show lead toxicity in different ways. For diarrhea, veterinarians might not do much, but for more severe symptoms, they might consider injections to bind up or remove the lead. But, Averill cautioned, aggressive treatments can come with harmful side effects.

Averill said the effect on cats is a concern, but testing can be difficult.

Greg Howe brought in his husky to “make sure she ain’t poisoned like the rest of the city of Flint is.” Patting his dog, Howe said: “I hope she lives a long, healthy life.”