Is Salmon Safe For Dogs?

While salmon is extremely healthy for dogs, and is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, dog owners need to be aware that in certain circumstances it can be deadly.

Raw salmon should NEVER be given to a dog. There is a parasite called a fluke that thrives in the waterways of the western Pacific Northwest. Fish that swim upstream to breed (salmon, trout) in mainly Washington, California, and Oregon become infected with this fluke. Inside of the fluke lives a bacterial organism called neorickettsia, that is relatively harmless to everyone except canids - in other words, your dog.

It's known as Salmon Poisoning Disease, and Canids are the only species susceptible to it. Without emergency veterinary treatment, your dog will only have a 10% chance of making it. Your dog would need a strong antibiotic to kill the neorickettsia, a wormer to kill the fluke, and possibly intravenous fluid.

Common symptoms may include lack of appetite, throwing up, enlarged lymph nodes, tiredness, fever, and bloody loose stool. The symptoms will usually begin one to two weeks after the salmon was ingested - and can be positively identified with a fecal.

You can avoid salmon poisoning by offering canned, or thoroughly cooking the salmon.