Salmon Poisoning in Dogs

Garret · Since 07 Sep 2006 254 Posts Portland Obsessed

Thought I would share this as I know a lot of NWkiters have dogs. I bring my dog to the river with me all the time and like most dogs do she loves to find the dead fish. I didn't catch her this time, but I guess a week or so ago she must have found a salmon and eaten some of it. Over the weekend she started to get really sick with bloody diarrhea, fevers and stopped eating. I brought her to the vet. They were on the ball and did a lymph node aspiration and found the bacteria that causes salmon poisoning. It is a fatal disease if it is not treated promptly. Apparently it is a bacteria that lives in a fluke worm that lives in a snail that the fish eat. When the dogs eat the fish they get infected by the worm and the bacteria jump off into their blood stream. I am writing this so everyone knows to try to keep their dogs away from the dead salmon- it is not just being stinky and gross- it could make them really sick. Likewise if your dog starts having these symptoms make sure your vet thinks about this- it is still pretty rare.

Mark · Wed Oct 08, 08 6:50 pm

Sorry to hear about the problems. Hope Raffike is getting better.
Mark

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Sorry to hear that Garret... hope Raffike is on the mend!

BTW had one of the get well cookies today, delicious! thanks man! hope to see you this weekend...

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

Hope Raffike feels better

- Astro got into a salmon carcuss last year and luckily a kiter on the beach warned us about Salmon poisoning - scarry stuff

Garret · Since 07 Sep 2006 254 Posts Portland Obsessed

Thanks-- she is doing a little better, but still pretty wobbly. Glad you liked the cookies Phil- will be in the gorge this weekend--

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

I have always been told that humans should not eat raw salmon for the same reason. I am not sure why this would affect your dog and does not seem to affect wild animals though.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Glad your pups okay, Garret! Smile

I remember covering this in one of my bio labs a few years back.... Pretty sure humans aren't affected by it (parasite), though there are still other disease we can get from eating raw fish.

Bettyboarder · Thu Oct 09, 08 6:15 am

Oh poor ffike...hope she feels better.

bwd · Since 04 Aug 2007 385 Posts Obsessed

Is that like SALMONella bacteria or some other bacteria?

jsj · Since 11 Sep 2006 83 Posts Hood River

troll.

and if it's not, just recognize that if your dog gets sick (as in both ends) and you've been anywhere near the river, odds are he/she needs a shot and some pills and some TLC.

That is, if you love your puppy.

jsj

Garret · Since 07 Sep 2006 254 Posts Portland Obsessed

No it is a rickettsial organism called Neorickettsia helminthoeca. Not related to Salmonella. Not sure where the salmon in salmonella comes from. It is also treated with a different type of antibiotic.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

So cooked salmon would be alright b/c the bacteria are dead?

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Yeah, I've always just heard when raw. Either way, I'm sure salmon bones aren't good either, but at far as the parasite is concerned.

kristina · Since 14 Mar 2007 27 Posts The Hood

Commercially caught salmon are flash-frozen and held @ very low temps for a while, which kills the worms/parasites and makes them safe for eating raw.

Just not a good idea to make sashimi outta something you just pulled from the river Smile

bill_prolithic · Since 21 Aug 2006 12 Posts

Garret, I hope Raffike is making a full recovery. Salmon poisoning is serious stuff! Our dog almost died from this or something similar a few years back. Our dog had symptoms a few days after exposure and within a few more could barely stand. If we didn't get her to the vet she probably would have been gone in a few more days. In our case, we were told it is the bacteria on the salmon gills that are the culprit. The bacteria, if ingested, will attack a dogs intestines destroying the intestinal lining. The dog will bleed to death internally if not treated PROMPTLY.

tstansbury · Since 06 Jun 2006 649 Posts Rowena and P.C Addicted

my understanding is that it is only in salmon that have been in fresh water and once your dog gets it if they recover they are imune.

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2102 Posts PNW Bigfoot