Pet owners are being warned to check water before letting their dogs go for a paddle, swim or drink after a pet died while trying to cool off in the warm weather.
Kendall fell ill within minutes of paddling in a lake which was contaminated with toxic blue-green algae.
Following the dog's death owner's are being reminded of the dangers blue-green algae poses.
In recent weeks the British Veterinary Association (BVA) said it had seen an increase in reports, including in Southampton, Edinburgh, Cornwall and Lincolnshire.
What happened?
Speaking to CheshireLive, owner Matt Browning, said: "It got a bit hot - we had done it hundreds of times - so we had a little paddle."
The six-year-old dog, was fine on the journey home but after a short while showed symptoms of serious illness.
After jumping on the sofa Kendall's head had dropped - and his owner's realised the dog wasn't breathing.
They rushed to the vets, but were told it was already too late. Kendall had died. Matt said: "I couldn't let go of him in the car park - I couldn't accept it."
A toxicology report confirmed that Kendall's death was caused by the presence of toxic blue-green algae in the water.
The Forestry Commission carried out tests on the water and Cheshire Wildlife Trust has since closed the lake for public use.
The BVA is urging owners to keep dogs on a lead around affected water.
Signs and symptoms
These are the signs you should look out for if you suspect your dog may have blue-green algae poisoning, according to the Blue Cross website.
If your dog shows any of the following signs after drinking from, or swimming or paddling in water, you should contact your vet immediately:
- Vomiting/being sick
- Diarrhoea
- Seizures/fitting
- Weakness/collapse/unconsciousness
- Disorientation/confusion
- Drooling
- Breathing difficulties
What is blue-green algae and what does it look like?
According to the Blue Cross, blue-green algae is a term used to describe a group of bacteria, called cyanobacteria.
They are not actually algae, but the organisms got this name because they often give the appearance of algae when they clump together in bodies of water.
The bacteria cannot be seen with the naked eye unless they clump together. When this happens, blue-green algae can look like green flakes, greenish bundles or brown dots in a pond, lake or stream.
When the algae blooms, it can give look like a blue-green scum has appeared on the surface of the water. It sometimes looks a bit like pea soup.
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