So you’re going fishing along the Pacific coast of the US or Canada, you want to try your hand at salmon fishing; or maybe you’re just craving some sushi! Salmon is a great fish, full of Omega 3s and 6s! But don’t let your dog have any of this fish raw! Wild caught and farm raised salmon can be infected with an intestinal worm parasite called Nanophyetus salmincola. This parasite itself is usually harmless, but when the parasite is infected with its own disease, a rickettsial organism called Neorickettsia helminthoeca, that is when the trouble really begins. This parasite duo doesn’t only infect salmon, but all salmonid fish, including trout, as well as other species of fish that swim upstream to breed! So it can occur in other areas as well, though it is most common in the streams of the pacific northwest.
Signs to watch for if your dog has gotten a hold of one of these raw fish are:
- Sudden fever – your dog could get a fever that skyrockets above 103℉, an emergency in and of itself! (too high of a fever can cause seizures among other life threatening problems)
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Discharge from the eyes and/or nose
- Swollen lymph nodes
These signs will usually show up within 3 to 6 days of consumption of an infected fish. The big problem with this is that you don’t know if the fish was infected until your dog starts showing signs of SPD. Your veterinarian can run tests to diagnose SPD. Tests would include microscopic fecal examination to look for the eggs of the worms. They may also need to do blood work, if the fecal exam is inconclusive. Another test your veterinarian may do is a fine needle aspirate of your dog’s lymph nodes, to look for the rickettsial organism that originally infected the worms; with this test they will be looking at the fluid from inside your dog’s lymph nodes. This type of test usually needs to be done at a reference laboratory, which can delay diagnosis.
Treatment for SPD will vary depending on the severity of the infection and when in the disease process the patient is presented to the veterinarian. More severe cases may need hospitalization with IV fluids, IV antibiotics, electrolyte corrections, and possibly even blood or plasma transfusions. If symptoms occur and are left untreated death will likely occur within 14 days of ingestions of an infected fish.
SPD can occur even if you didn’t give your dog any raw fish. At a campsite, other campers may leave fish bodies laying around, or maybe your dog likes to go trash digging, you never know what your neighbor puts in their trash can! The only sure way to keep your dog from getting Salmon Poisoning Disease is to not let them have any raw fish.
You may be thinking, but what about my cat? Well, good news for cats, only dogs, and other canids, like coyote and foxes, are susceptible to SPD. If you suspect your dog has been exposed to raw salmonid fish and showing one or more of the above listed symptoms, it is recommended you seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
Author: Cheryl Miller, RVT, CVBL, FFCP (Veterinary), VCC
If you’d like to schedule an appointment or discuss possible salmon poisoning disease, please call or text us at (843) 966-3362. You can also schedule an appointment online. You can also schedule a virtual appointment directly with Cheryl here.
References:
- Veterinary Parasitology. “Second Pathogen Discovered in Vector of Salmon Poisoning Disease.” DVM360. Available at: https://www.dvm360.com/view/second-pathogen-discovered-in-vector-of-salmon-poisoning-disease.
- Sykes, J.E., et al. “Chapter 31: Salmon Poisoning Disease.” Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat. PDF available at: https://raw-feeding-prey-model.fr/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/sykes2014.pdf.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. “Salmon Poisoning Disease and Elokomin Fluke Fever in Dogs.” Available at: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/disorders-affecting-multiple-body-systems-of-dogs/salmon-poisoning-disease-and-elokomin-fluke-fever-in-dogs.
- Veterinary Medicine Journals. “Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis of Salmon Poisoning Disease.” Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9718139/.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. “Salmon Poisoning Disease and Elokomin Fluke Fever in Animals.” Available at: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/generalized-conditions/rickettsial-diseases/salmon-poisoning-disease-and-elokomin-fluke-fever-in-animals.
- Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. “Salmon Poisoning Disease (‘Fish Disease’).” Available at: https://www.oregonvma.org/care-health/companion-animals/health-safety/salmon-poisoning-disease-fish-disease.