salmon poisoning and dogs

Dog owners in the Pacific Northwest should be aware that salmon in our region (particularly Northern California to the Puget Sound) are commonly hosts to a fluke infestation that is deadly to wild and domestic dogs.  The flukes, found in raw salmon or trout and in Pacific Giant Salamanders, cause trouble not on their own but due to their being commonly infected by certain bacteria.  The biology of the infestation is complex, and its greater frequency in our region is apparently due to the presence of an intermediate host to the bacteria, a species of snail.

Symptoms of Salmon Poisoning Disease (SPD) appear usually within a week but sometimes after as much as a month; 90% of untreated dogs will die.  Typical treatment consists of antibiotics, wormers, and administration of fluids.  The best chance for a positive outcome is to treat before symptoms appear.

Another fluke infestation that can also be fatal but is less severe than SPD can accompany it or occur alone, and can affect a broader range of species.

Only dogs and their wild cousins the foxes, coyotes and wolves, are affected by SPD.  Bears and wild or domestic cats can eat raw salmon, and humans are not harmed by it.  Well-cooked salmon is fine for dogs, and cooked or smoked salmon is included in many high-quality dog foods.

Do not give your dog raw salmon scraps, and always take care in discarding raw salmon leavings, being sure to make them inaccessible to your own and other dogs. If you think your dog has eaten raw fish or a salamander, try to retrieve a portion of the material eaten, and call a vet immediately.

My own dog, Virginia Woof, ate a considerable portion of an entire raw salmon that we encountered on the path when we were walking near my cabin.  It turned out that some of my neighbors had felt that the cougar seen in the area ought to be encouraged, and had deliberately placed the fish there.  I rushed my dog home and administered hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting; she suffered no ill effects.  I have since made it a policy to carry a quart of hydrogen peroxide in my car at all times, because Virginia will eat anything… and people are even less sensible.
For more information about this disease, an informative page can be found here.