Salmon Blood

NAUTI-NOTIONS · 11-20-2001, 09:01 AM

In relation to Jennie's post on the wound thing. I have been told its fatal for a dog to lap up blood from a salmon. Any truth to this?

SureSet · 11-20-2001, 09:40 AM

http://www.ifish.net/cgi-local/ultim...c&f=1&t=006460

SureSet

Terry H · 11-20-2001, 01:52 PM

Bumper , dogs can get what they call "salmon poisening" . I've been told by a vet that dogs can get this just by licking ANY FRESHWATER FISH . Some dogs can survive and then are immune to further infections .
If you know the dog is infectel and are watchfull of his temp , you can give him an antibiotic that will cure them most of the time . however some cases will still be die of the poisen .
I've been lucky with my black lab , he's 13 and I live on the water and he has been around a lot of fish . He's never gotten sick .
I also know of guys who have given their young dogs a small peice of raw fish , trying to immunize . I've always been to attached to my "buddy" to take the risk .

OneLastCast · 11-20-2001, 03:21 PM

Every dog I have owned has come down with salmon poisoning. If you know that your dog has been around fish, fish blood, old carcasses etc., keep an eye on him/her. If they start acting listless, won't eat or drink, just want to lay around or may have runny eyes, call a vet. It is easy to treat and amazing how fast they get their energy back once they are on the meds. If I remember correctly you need to start giving them tetracycline as soon as their temperature reaches 104 deg. Check with the Vet. As I said it is easy to treat as long as you caught it soon enough. If you wait to long then it involves a stay at the vet with I.V.s etc.

OneLastCast

Got Fish? · 11-20-2001, 04:36 PM

I heard that in alsaka dogs eat a lot of the salmon because it is so abundant. Maybe they get a resistance to it. As for my golden retriever she was unfortunate enough to get that condition. She grabbed a steelhead fillet off the counter and drug it into my parents bedroom on their bed! :shocked: Well about a day later she got sick and the vets gave her trycicaline (sp). We thought we were going to lose her and she was only a puppy and she didn't know any better. She was down for about 4 days and gradually got better. There was a 2nd incident that we thought she might have gotten into some salmon and the vet said just give the antibiotic and she might not even get sick. So my advice would be if your dog even has the chance that he/she might get sick, go get the antibiotics right away.

Trout,myster · 11-20-2001, 05:00 PM

Good info in these posts. I no longer have the dog (she's running up and down the great river up above), but she ended up with salmon poisoning from the Alsea after a weekend trip. I had no idea what it was, wife just said "you need to check your dog...she hasn't moved all day". Well, her breath smelled exactly like dead/decaying salmon! Not saying that's completely accurate, but may be a good indication.

When in doubt, follow these folks' advice and toss the mutt in the truck and head for the vet. The medication works quite well!

You can also thank the next idiot who cleans his fish and tosses the guts on the bank! They won't hurt the river a bit (they get eaten or rot just like all the fish that die). Also, if fish are cleaned at home, double bag the guts or freeze them until garbage day. I live in the country and just bury them (2+ feet deep) in the flower gardens. Don't toss'em on the bank for somebody's lab to suck up and get sick!

Jennie@ifish · 11-20-2001, 06:24 PM

Living on the river, the vet gave us some antibiotics to give to the dog the minute she looks ill.
This worked great with Dee Dee, and now I am worried about Kilchis, our new pup.
The river bank is full of salmon parts right now.
All it takes is one lick...
Scary!
Jen

Grant Scheele · 11-20-2001, 07:06 PM

The Salmon in Alaska don't have the parasite that causes the sickness.

chromer · 11-20-2001, 10:53 PM

My understanding, and I don't profess to be an expert, is that the parasite that causes the poisoning is only found along the Pacific coast from about California to the Puget Sound area. Farther north or south and no problem, which explains why Alaskan dogs can eat all the salmon and steelhead they want.

Also the fish must be anadromous (go to ocean and then back to fresh water). Hatchery trout plants in your local lake do not have the parasite and warm water fish are safe for dogs to eat. But even fish like shad, can have it.

So, in my experience the best bet is keep a close eye on your dog when on the river and know the early symptoms (zero energy and high temp). Then have plan for quick treatment.