Rotten salmon/salmon poisoning

[Jennie@ifish]

I was out fishing the Kilchis this afternoon with a jig, cuz of the low water.
I have watched Kilchis very carefully, with all of the dead salmon, but darn it anyway, he got into it this afternoon.
I immediately went in and called the vet.
This vet told me some things that I didn't know.
1. If the salmon has been dead for more than 24 hours, the fluke that causes the sickness dies. This salmon was VERY stinking rotten! I am hoping this particular salmon won't infect him.
2. If you watch the dog very carefully for the first signs, listlessness, poor appetite, etc, and catch it early, chances are nearly 100 % that they will be OK, if taken to the vet pronto.
3. They can become infected more than once, as there are two different kinds of salmon flukes that cause the illness.
Now, I have heard both sides to this argument, and I still don't know what to believe on this one.
No matter what I do with Kilchis, with the amount of salmon carcass, and then steelhead coming up, he's going to get it. I just can't fish with a dog on a leash out there. I had one rod with a jig, and one with a plug that I was holding in a riffle. (At separate times, of course!!!)
Good luck, and watch your dog extremely closely whenever you clean fish at home, etc. If you watch them, and catch it quick, all will be OK!
He said the dogs that die are the ones who have progressed to the vomiting, loose bowel stage.
I sure hope Kilchis will be OK... I worry, but hey, we live on the river. It's going to happen.
Jen

[Snapshot]

Jen, keep a close eye on him. Bad things don't happen to good dogs. HE had some Beegles or ewas it bagels that chase rabbits? It's an old saying of my grandpa's so it must be right. He's to cute and we need him around. He's one of the gang now.
Godspeed.

[Jennie@ifish]

Oh I will!!! And I am!!!
I was worried sick and very sad when I saw what he was enjoying. YUCK!
I love him so much!
I just keep thinking, "PLEASE NO!!!"
Jen

[Fish Hawk Adventures]

Jen,
Best of luck to you and your Pup. He will be OK. I have had many dogs and cleaned many fish around them, one thing I do is always bag up all the flesh and blood clots and then use alot of soap to suds everything up so the dogs will not touch the fish remenance that may be left behind. Ps do this in gravel the soap kills the lawn.
Joe

[Snapshot]

Jen, as I mentioned above He( being my grandpa) grandfather knew dogs well but he never had to worry about them getting into salmon. Not in Texas. But I do recall him telling a story about his best three dogs running a rabbit into a hole only to pull out a skunk... He used to love telling that one and how they did stink. Grandma was not so understanding or tolerant and would make them all sleep outside for a few days. Sometime he said he had to sleep with the dogs but I never understood. I asked him if he stunk like the skunk too and he would always laugh and say "oh yes".....
Keep Kilches close and don't let him out without someone with him. Would not want to give him another chance to scare us.

[SlimPickens]

I have a dog that was exposed and survived. Must catch it early on and go to a vet, as you say. Since I live on a river also, keeping an eye on the dog all the time was not possible. I like to let her run free when I'm fishing. She was exposed as a pup, and has never got it again even though she eats fresh and rotten salmon every now and then when I'm not looking. Its a relief knowing I don't have to worry about it any more.

The key is to watch the dog closely for any sickness after you been on the river, even after they have been treated.

[Pilar]

Jen, my old dog had this when she was about 1 yrs old. We almost didn't get her to the vet in time. She only eats smelt now. It's never bothered her since.

He's a lucky dog!