Is Anatoxin-a safe for dogs and cats?
High risk for petsDogs are at significant risk from anatoxin-a and other cyanotoxin exposure during recreational activities near freshwater bodies experiencing cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms. Dogs that swim in or drink bloom-affected water can ingest lethal quantities; dogs that roll in or lick algal scum washed ashore are at particularly high risk because dried cyanobacterial mats retain potent toxin concentrations. Anatoxin-a poisoning in dogs presents with rapid onset (15–30 minutes) of hypersalivation, muscle rigidity, tremors, seizures, and respiratory failure; death can occur within 30–60 minutes of significant exposure. Numerous dog fatalities from cyanotoxin (primarily anatoxin-a and/or microcystin) exposure at HAB-affected freshwater sites have been reported in the US, UK, Australia, and other countries, with public health authorities issuing dog advisories during confirmed bloom events. Other cyanotoxins — particularly microcystins — co-occur in blooms and contribute to hepatotoxicity in addition to the acute neurotoxicity of anatoxin-a. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists cyanobacterial toxins as a significant, rapidly lethal hazard for dogs. There is no specific antidote; atropine is ineffective (anatoxin-a is an nAChR agonist, not an organophosphate); treatment is supportive ventilation.
What is anatoxin-a?
The IUPAC name is 1-[(1R,6R)-9-azabicyclo[4.2.1]non-2-en-2-yl]ethanone.
Also known as: 1-[(1R,6R)-9-azabicyclo[4.2.1]non-2-en-2-yl]ethanone, Anatoxin A, Anatoxin I, Antx-A.
- IUPAC name
- 1-[(1R,6R)-9-azabicyclo[4.2.1]non-2-en-2-yl]ethanone
- CAS number
- 64285-06-9
- Molecular formula
- C10H15NO
- Molecular weight
- 165.23 g/mol
- SMILES
- CC(=O)C1=CCCC2CCC1N2
- PubChem CID
- 3034748
Risk for dogs
High riskDogs are at significant risk from anatoxin-a and other cyanotoxin exposure during recreational activities near freshwater bodies experiencing cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms. Dogs that swim in or drink bloom-affected water can ingest lethal quantities; dogs that roll in or lick algal scum washed ashore are at particularly high risk because dried cyanobacterial mats retain potent toxin concentrations. Anatoxin-a poisoning in dogs presents with rapid onset (15–30 minutes) of hypersalivation, muscle rigidity, tremors, seizures, and respiratory failure; death can occur within 30–60 minutes of significant exposure. Numerous dog fatalities from cyanotoxin (primarily anatoxin-a and/or microcystin) exposure at HAB-affected freshwater sites have been reported in the US, UK, Australia, and other countries, with public health authorities issuing dog advisories during confirmed bloom events. Other cyanotoxins — particularly microcystins — co-occur in blooms and contribute to hepatotoxicity in addition to the acute neurotoxicity of anatoxin-a. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists cyanobacterial toxins as a significant, rapidly lethal hazard for dogs. There is no specific antidote; atropine is ineffective (anatoxin-a is an nAChR agonist, not an organophosphate); treatment is supportive ventilation.
Regulatory consensus
1 regulatory bodyhas classified Anatoxin-a.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WHO | — | Guideline value of 30 μg/L in recreational waters | For cyanotoxin-related risk management in water quality |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where pets encounter anatoxin-a
- Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
- Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles
Safer alternatives
Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Anatoxin-a:
-
Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.Relative cost: 1.2-2×
Frequently asked questions
Is anatoxin-a safe for pets?
Dogs are at significant risk from anatoxin-a and other cyanotoxin exposure during recreational activities near freshwater bodies experiencing cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms. Dogs that swim in or drink bloom-affected water can ingest lethal quantities; dogs that roll in or lick algal scum washed ashore are at particularly high risk because dried cyanobacterial mats retain potent toxin concentrations. Anatoxin-a poisoning in dogs presents with rapid onset (15–30 minutes) of hypersalivation, muscle rigidity, tremors, seizures, and respiratory failure; death can occur within 30–60 minutes of significant exposure. Numerous dog fatalities from cyanotoxin (primarily anatoxin-a and/or microcystin) exposure at HAB-affected freshwater sites have been reported in the US, UK, Australia, and other countries, with public health authorities issuing dog advisories during confirmed bloom events. Other cyanotoxins — particularly microcystins — co-occur in blooms and contribute to hepatotoxicity in addition to the acute neurotoxicity of anatoxin-a. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists cyanobacterial toxins as a significant, rapidly lethal hazard for dogs. There is no specific antidote; atropine is ineffective (anatoxin-a is an nAChR agonist, not an organophosphate); treatment is supportive ventilation.
What products contain anatoxin-a?
Anatoxin-a appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).
See Anatoxin-a in the pets app
Look up products containing anatoxin-a, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in pets View raw API dataSources (3)
- WHO: Cyanobacterial Toxins — Anatoxin-a, nAChR Mechanism, VFDF History, Recreational Water Guideline (30 μg/L), Drinking Water Treatment, Freshwater Ecology, and Global HAB Epidemiology (2021 Background Document) (2021) — regulatory
- US EPA: Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water — Anatoxin-a, Cylindrospermopsin, Microcystins — Health Advisories, Treatment Technologies, Monitoring Guidance, and HAB Early Warning Systems (2019) (2019) — regulatory
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Cyanobacterial Toxins (Anatoxin-a, Microcystin) — Freshwater HAB Exposure in Dogs, Rapid-Onset Neurotoxicity, Hepatotoxicity, Clinical Presentation, and Case Reports (2022) (2022) — veterinary
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →