Symptoms of salmonella in dogs and cats

With the recent pet food recalls resulting from the peanut butter salmonella contamination,  many pet owners are left wondering “Does my dog/cat have salmonella?” at the first sign of a dog or cat with an upset stomach.

A dog or cat with a normal case of upset stomach will typically recover within 48 hours, with improvement visible after 24 hours. But a pet with salmonella will not recover after a day or two; most cases of salmonella last approximately one week.

Symptoms of salmonella in dogs and cats include:

• Vomiting (sometimes with blood present)
• Diarrhea (sometimes with blood present)
• Dehydration
• Fever
• Hypoglycemia
• Lethargy
• Stomach Gurgling
• Refusing to Eat/Drink

In a few cases, a dog or cat with salmonella may show additional, less common symptoms, including red, swollen eyes, stiffness and arthritis-like joint pain and stiffness and urinary tract abnormalities that can lead to straining and frequent urination.

Diagnosing and Treating a Case of Salmonella in a Cat or Dog

To confirm a case of salmonella, a veterinarian must test a stool sample. These laboratory tests for salmonella are vital if the pet owner plans to seek financial compensation from a pet food company for veterinary bills incurred from a case of salmonella that resulted from eating recalled dog food, cat food or pet treats.

Treatment for salmonella most often consists of supportive care like IV fluids, along with oral antibiotics, particularly when a secondary infection occurs in the sick pet.

Recalled Pet Food as a Source of Salmonella in Dogs and Cats

Three brands of pet treats were recalled in January 2009 as a result of the salmonella-tainted peanut butter. These recalled pet treats include: Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits,  Puppy Chow Dog Treats and Happy Tails Multi Flavored Dog Treats.

In addition to these recalled dog treats, an array of cat foods and dog foods were recalled in late 2008, as a result of salmonella contamination at a Mars Petcare U.S. factory. Mars Petcare manufactures pet food brands like Pedigree, Special Kitty and Ol’ Roy, among others.

This 2008 pet food recall included more than a dozen pet food brands like Pedigree were recalled due to salmonella contamination during the latter part of 2008, which means the possibility still exists that there are salmonella-contaminated bags of pet food on some store shelves.

Other Sources of Salmonella in Pets

In addition to contracting salmonella from eating tainted pet food or pet treats, dogs and cats can get salmonella from contact with a human that’s suffering from salmonella.

Salmonella is one of the few illnesses that can be transmitted between species, so dogs can give salmonella to cats and humans and spread salmonella to a dog.

What Should I Do if I Think My Dog or Cat Has Salmonella?

If you suspect that your dog, cat or other pet has salmonella, a visit to the veterinarian is vital. Pets can and will die from complications associated with salmonella, like dehydration.

Fortunately, with supportive care and a prompt visit to the veterinarian’s office, most pets with salmonella will recover. The key is to take this illness very seriously; don’t delay treatment if you think your pet may be sick with salmonella.

Looking for a 24-hour veterinary clinic in the Boston area? Read The Boston Area’s 24-Hour Veterinary Hospitals for information on where you can take your dog, cat or other pet for emergency veterinary care on a night, weekend, holiday or any other time that your normal veterinarian is unavailable to examine your sick pet.