By Sarah Hoggan, from the April 2000 Newsletter

Fishing can be wonderful recreation, but sharing the catch with your dog can be an act of kindness that kills. Salmon Poisoning Disease is a horrific and often fatal condition seen in dogs that eat certain raw fish. Salmon (salmonid fish) and other anadromous fish can be infected with a parasite called Nanophyetus salmincola. Overall, the parasite is relatively harmless. The danger occurs when the parasite itself is infected with a rickettsial organism called Neorickettsia helminthoeca. It's this microorganism that causes salmon poisoning.

"Salmon poisoning is most prevalent west of the Cascade mountain range," says Dr. Bill Foreyt, a veterinary parasitologist at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. He adds, "Canids are the only species susceptible to salmon poisoning. That's why cats, raccoons and bears eat raw fish regularly without consequence."

Generally, clinical signs appear within six days of a dog eating an infected fish. Fever, diarrhea, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes are all common symptoms of salmon poisoning. Additionally, a dog may show weight loss and refuse to eat. Death usually occurs within fourteen days of eating the infected fish. Unfortunately, 90 percent of dogs showing symptoms die.

Thankfully, salmon poisoning is treatable if it's caught in time. A key to its diagnosis is telling your veterinarian that your dog ate raw fish. If you have a dog that wanders, or raids trash cans, and you are unsure of what it's eaten, salmon poisoning can be diagnosed with a fecal sample. Detecting the parasite's eggs as they are shed in the feces confirms its presence. The combination of symptoms plus the presence of eggs is enough to justify treatment.

Given the severity of the condition, treatment is relatively simple. Your veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic and a "wormer." The drug kills the rickettsial organisms causing the illness, and the wormer kills the parasite. Once treatment has been started, most dogs show dramatic improvement within two days.

Next time you are fishing or purchase raw salmon and you hear the familiar begging whine of your dog--ignore it. They may not understand, but not sharing the fish is the best thing for them. This will save them from suffering salmon poisoning, and save you from a costly veterinary bill.

Sarah Hoggan is a junior at WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine. She and her wonderful husband have three dogs, two cats, and are expecting a baby in September to add to their happy commotion.

 

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