Salmon poisoning in dogs

What causes salmon poisoning?

The fish can carry a parasite, a fluke called Nanophyetus salmincola. The fluke can carry a bacteria like organism called Neorickettsia helminthoeca, and that organism is what makes a dog sick. The illness is seen only in dogs.

Which dogs are at risk?

Any dog that eats raw salmon, trout or another fish that runs upstream. In Portland that usually means a carcass on a riverbank in the fall, scraps from cleaning a catch, or a raw fillet taken off a counter.

What are the signs?

Signs generally appear within six days of eating an infected fish.

• Vomiting
• Lack of appetite
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Weakness
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Dehydration

How serious is it?

Ninety percent of dogs that show symptoms die without treatment, usually within two weeks of eating the fish. With treatment, the outlook is good.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

We look for the fluke's eggs in a stool sample, or take a needle sample from a swollen lymph node. Treatment is an antibiotic to kill the organism and a wormer to clear the fluke. Most dogs show dramatic improvement within two days.

How do I prevent it?

Keep your dog leashed along rivers when the fish are running, from September through December. Bag heads, skin and scraps when you clean a catch, and put the bag where a dog cannot reach it. Cook any fish you plan to share.

The medical facts on this page come from the Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This page is general guidance and cannot examine your dog.