FYI: Salmon Poisoning Disease

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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 potentially fatal condition seen in
dogs that eat certain types of raw fish. Salmon (salmonid fish) and
other anadromous fish (fish that swim upstream to breed) 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 occurs most commonly 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 (dogs) are the only species susceptible to salmon
poisoning. That's why cats, raccoons and bears eat raw fish
regularly with out consequence."

Generally clinical signs appear within six days of a dog eating an
infected fish.

Common symptoms of salmon poisoning include:

vomiting
lack of appetite
fever
diarrhea
weakness
swollen lymph nodes
dehydration

Salmon poisoning is usually fatal if not treated If untreated,
death usually occurs within fourteen days of eating the infected
fish. Ninety percent of dogs showing symptoms die if they are not
treated.
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 trashcans and you
are unsure of what it's eaten; consider the possibility of salmon
poisoning. Salmon poisoning can be diagnosed with a fecal sample or
a needle sample of a swollen lymph node. Detecting the parasite's
eggs as they are shed in the feces confirms its presence. The
rickettsial organism can be detected in a needle sample from a
swollen lymph node. The combination of symptoms, and the presence of
parasite eggs or the rickettsial organisms, are enough to justify
treatment.

If caught early, most dogs respond rapidly to treatment Given the
severity of the condition, treatment is relatively simple. Your
veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic and a "wormer". The
antibiotic kills the rickettsial organisms that cause the illness,
and the wormer kills the parasite. If the dog is dehydrated,
intravenous fluid are given. Once treatment has been started, most
dogs show dramatic improvement within two days.