Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause illness in both people and pets, contaminating both homemade dog food and commercial dog foods, leading to pet product recalls.
There are nearly 2000 types of Salmonella bacteria, most of which are naturally found in the environment and can remain alive for months or years in manure or soil. Some types are normal inhabitants of animals and cause no problems, while others can trigger various diseases, from diarrheal illnesses to a potentially fatal condition, with several crucial symptoms of salmonella to be aware of.
When the illness is observed in adult dogs, the animal typically has another infection or health issue at the same time. Puppies are more likely to show signs of the disease. Dogs contract the bacterium by drinking contaminated water, ingesting raw or commercially contaminated foods with infected feces, or by eating manure.
Salmonella: What to Feed for Safety
The saying “we are what we eat” applies to pets as much as people. After the pet food recall in 2007, many pet owners decided to become home feeders and cook for their pets at home.
The veterinary community warns pet owners about homemade feeding and especially raw diets for two reasons. First, it’s very challenging to create a nutritionally balanced diet for your pet in a sustained manner.
Only with a solid recipe from a veterinary nutritionist can this be successfully done, and it can be particularly helpful for pets with therapeutic dietary needs.
The second reason is the fear of food contamination, with salmonella being a real danger, more so for people (especially children and immunocompromised individuals) than for pets.
Safe food handling is a must, even with human food. Concern has been that widespread home cooking and/or raw feeding could result in a salmonella outbreak.
However, increasingly, commercial diets and snacks have been pulled from the market due to concerns about salmonella contamination during processing. The increase is suspected due to greater public awareness, expanded surveillance, and early reporting.
Responsible pet food companies announce any suspected batch of food to alert pet owners and withdraw specific products that may be implicated. As a responsible dog owner, educate yourself about the signs of the disease and how you can best protect your dog – and yourself – from illness.
Signs of Salmonella Infection
Most infected dogs never show signs of illness, but they can harbor the bacteria and spread the disease to other animals and people. When the disease develops, signs include:
- Acute diarrhea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach pain (hunched posture)
- Depression
Bacteria can be carried in the bloodstream to the liver, lungs, or uterus. Once in the bloodstream, dogs can become seriously ill and require intensive care.
The signs of the disease usually last from four to ten days, but diarrhea can continue for a month or more.
Symptoms and Treatment of Salmonella
The condition is diagnosed based on signs of illness and detection of the bacteria in the blood or tissues of the affected dog. When enteritis is the primary issue, treatment typically involves fluid therapy to correct dehydration and medications to help with nausea and discomfort.
A culture of the fecal sample will identify the strain of Salmonella so that the most effective antibiotic can be administered.
However, antibiotic therapy is only indicated in cases of severe systemic illness to avoid the possibility of promoting the development of a drug-resistant strain.
How to Prevent Salmonella
Protect your dog from salmonella by reducing its hunting activities. Dogs that consume rodents or other wildlife are at a much higher risk.
- Do not feed your dog raw or undercooked meat. If you choose to provide a raw food diet, take extra precautions to ensure that the food is safe for your dog and for the humans handling the food.
- Clean the yard and dispose of fecal matter promptly.
- Protect yourself by thoroughly washing your hands after handling dog food, feces, or when dealing with a sick dog.
- Wearing gloves in combination with handwashing is a safe option for handling pet waste.
- Use a diluted bleach solution (1:32 ratio) to disinfect food bowls, toys, and areas where the dog sleeps.
If you suspect your pet is ill, immediately call your veterinarian. For health-related inquiries, always consult your veterinarian as they have examined your pet, know the pet’s health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet.