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When Tynan & Wilhelm Didn't Roll In A Dead Fish: Pacific Salmon Poisoning Disease In Dogs

10/21/2014

11 Comments

 
When Tynan & Wilhelm Didn't Roll In A Dead Fish: Pacific Salmon Poisoning Disease In DogsThough not a swimmer, Tynan always loved time spent near water.
Typist: Bethany
On a particularly stormy and wet autumn trip to First Beach, Washington, one-year-old Wilhelm and nine-year-old Tynan were having the time of their lives running through and around barn sized mounds of sea foam. Both dogs always did an excellent job of keeping a close off-leash radius and checking in frequently so I knew when they disappeared behind some driftwood and stayed for a while, they had probably found something "interesting." There was more of a pause than there should have been for them to return when recalled. By then I was close enough to see what they had gotten into; a washed up salmon. Simply thankful that the dogs had not rolled in the dead fish, I asked them to leave it and we avoided the carcass for the rest of our visit.

The incident with the dead salmon was completely out of my mind when I took Tynan and Wilhelm to their annual veterinary checkup appointment a few days later. In casual conversation with my veterinarian during the exam, the doctor got to hear all about our recent adventure on the beach. I babbled on to the vet that both dogs had to be bathed upon our return because of the chases through the massive piles of sea foam but I was so glad they hadn't rolled in the dead salmon. The sudden change in the doctors demeanor surprised me. "Dead salmon?" he queried, "they didn't eat any of it, did they?" I replied that I wasn't certain. Maybe? Probably? It did look like they were chomping during the brief ignoring of my recall. But so what?

My vet then gave me what I look back on now as one of the top shocks on my life. He told me about Salmon Poisoning Disease. And I wish he had asked me to sit down first. I felt so weak and helpless as he asked me if Tynan or Wilhelm had any symptoms like vomiting, diminished appetite, diarrhea, lethargy or dehydration. I thought I would have mentioned such severe symptoms at the beginning of the exam but now that the dogs lives were at stake, I meticulously retraced each and every moment in the days since the dead salmon encounter at the beach. Fortunately, both dogs were symptom free. The vet told me that he has seen dogs go from beginning symptoms to death quite quickly so he recommended that Wilhelm and Tynan start on antibiotics immediately.

When Tynan & Wilhelm Didn't Roll In A Dead Fish: Pacific Salmon Poisoning Disease In DogsCompletely innocent of rolling in dead salmon.
Like so many of the times I followed my vets advice, however shocked or dazed I may have been, I am very grateful that I did. Young Wilhelm and senior Tynan took the entire course of what the vet called "very strong" antibiotics. They thankfully never exhibited Salmon Poisoning Disease symptoms. One of my two regrets during this brush with raw salmon is that at the time my knowledge of what to do to holistically help the dogs systems cope with antibiotics was very limited. Both dogs only had minor stomach upset but had I done more to help their bodies adjust to the medication, they might have felt better. Seeing as how Salmon Poisoning Disease can wreak so much more havoc on canines than our fortunately symptom free encounter, we got off very, very lucky indeed.

My second regret is that I didn't keep my dogs safe from Salmon Poisoning Disease to begin with. I didn't even know the disease existed and ignorance is never bliss, especially
where my dogs health is concerned. A huge part of the shock that occurred when my vet told me that Tynan and Wilhelm's lives were in danger was my lack of knowledge. I have been sharing Cascadian beaches with dogs since I was a toddler but had never even heard of this disease. My research after my dogs brush with the disease proved that I am not alone. While Salmon Poisoning Disease is a dangerous killer in the Pacific Northwest, very few dog owners are aware of it nor do they take precautions to keep their dogs safe. Since that day at the vet, beach time with my dogs has never been the same. I am always on constant alert. I plan to never rely on accidental babbling with the vet to save my dogs lives again. I work hard to avoid beaches during salmon spawning times. I am constantly on alert for any beach debris especially objects with birds nearby. If my dogs to ever got near raw salmon, salmon fishing or anything that might put them at risk for the rickettsial organism again, I would treat them regardless of symptoms just like I did when Tynan and Wilhelm didn't roll in the dead fish. 

Salmon Poisoning Disease, Danger On Every Beach: Raw Pacific Salmon Is Deadly To Dogs
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11 Comments
Molly The Wally link
10/20/2014 06:53:00 pm

Yikes that is a new one to us. Never heard of it before. Well at least we both are a bit wiser now. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly

Reply
Rebecca link
10/20/2014 10:23:08 pm

WOW! That is scary to have something around and not be aware of it. Thanks so much for sharing this. Even on the East Coast I'm glad to be aware of it in the off chance we ever visit the West Coast we will be aware of this danger.

Reply
Oz the Terrier link
10/20/2014 11:52:13 pm

OH MY! I have never heard of this before...though we do not live where salmon may just wash ashore. Eating a raw diet, I know raw fish is NOT good for dogs but who knew they could die from poisoning. I am so glad neither had eaten that salmon when they found it...and I am glad you learned about this so you could share it with all of us.
Oz

Reply
Jodi link
10/21/2014 12:29:30 am

Holy moly!! I had never heard of this until you mentioned it. Thank you so much for adding this valuable post to the Round Robin.

I'm so glad you nonchalantly mentioned this to your vet and despite them not having eaten the salmon, I think you were wise to treat it. Better to be safe than sorry!!

Since I have Delilah (who will eat anything) it's important for me to know what dangers may lurk in areas we may travel too. I think this is a valuable topic to be sharing. Especially since it's not widely known in your area.

Thank you again and I'm so glad it turned out well for you.

Reply
It's Dog or Nothing link
10/21/2014 01:41:19 am

Wow, I have never heard of this. Really important info! I'm glad everything turned out okay for you.

Reply
Jan K link
10/21/2014 05:40:56 am

Wow, I'm so glad this turned out OK for your dogs. I have never heard of this either. Even though I'm on the east coast, you still think you might hear more about it anywhere.
I will share your post and hopefully we can spread the word some!

Reply
Emma link
10/21/2014 06:01:38 am

You can't beat yourself up too badly because pet parents can't know everything. We've never heard of it either. I guess if you live where there are salmon one would think it would be common knowledge, but I'm sure lots of visitors have no clue either. Glad everyone was fine.

Reply
Beth link
10/21/2014 06:14:37 am

Wow! I had never heard of this, either--of course, I don't live anywhere near wild salmon, but we regularly see dead fish on the beach. I've always assumed eating them is not good for dogs because of the bacteria that I'm sure grows on them, but I never thought that it could cause more than an upset tummy! I wonder if there's a similar affect from eating our dead great lakes fish.

Reply
Kitty Cat Chronicles link
10/21/2014 09:13:30 am

Wow! That is really scary. I've never heard of that either. A very informative post. Glad your two pups are okay!

Reply
Life Raterrific link
10/21/2014 10:34:32 am

Wow, that's terrifying! We live near the South East coast of the U.S., so no Salmon (which I am now very grateful for) but we have our dangerous sea life that washes ashore as well. Awareness is a wonderful thing.

Reply
SlimDoggy link
10/25/2014 06:09:37 am

Wow - I've never heard of it either, but it needs to get out ther e- thanks for this post - I will share!

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