Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
KTLA
More California dog owners advised to be aware of salmon poisoning disease
By Will Conybeare,
12 days ago
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding all Golden State residents to take precautions to protect their dogs from a potentially fatal disease caused by raw fish.
According to CDFW officials , salmon poisoning disease can be fatal in dogs after they eat certain types of raw or cold-smoked fish like trout or salmon.
All fish caught or originating from streams in California could potentially be affected, CDFW warns.
Earlier this month , the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control issued an animal health advisory after four dogs tested positive for the potentially deadly bacterial disease.
The disease is caused by Neorickettsia helminthoeca , a “bacteria-like organism” transmitted by parasitic flatworms (Nanophyetes salmincola), more commonly known as flukes .
Flukes occur naturally in waters in Northern California, wildlife department officials said, and while most of NorCal is considered the native range for the fluke, dogs across the state are susceptible to the disease.
“Dog owners are advised to be cautious and to keep their dogs away from salmon, steelhead, trout and other freshwater fish carcasses,” CDFW said in a release , which noted that the parasite cannot survive if the fish is cooked.
Salmon poisoning disease is not harmful to humans and does not affect pets other than dogs, officials added.
The CDFW says symptoms are “similar to distemper” and can include:
A rise in body temperature
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Listlessness
Rapid weight loss
Dog owners who recognize symptoms of salmon poisoning disease are urged to take their pets to a veterinarian immediately, as it is treatable if caught in time.
“If untreated, death usually occurs within two weeks of eating the infected fish,” the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said. “Without treatment, 90 percent of dogs showing symptoms die.”
CDFW officials are cautioning residents in the North Central Region — which encompasses parts of 17 different counties — that trout stocked in local waters are more likely to be infected with the flukes.
For more information on CDFW’s weekly fish planting schedule, click here .
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0