We’re all pet parents here, so we’re no strangers to surprises. Whether it’s hearing someone say, “My dog ate raw meat and is throwing up,” or dealing with it firsthand, we’ve probably all been there at some point in our dog-loving lives. But how serious could it really be?

You’ve probably heard of salmonella, but you might think it’s something that only affects humans. Well, think again! Can dogs catch salmonella? Yes, they can. But how exactly can your dog get salmonella, and where does it come from?

We’ll walk you through how to spot it, share some warning signs to look out for in your dog’s behavior, and give you advice on what to do if you think something’s wrong. And if the worst happens, don’t worry – we’ve got expert tips on how to treat it.

The most common signs of salmonella in dogs are vomiting or bloody diarrhea. If you notice either (or both) of these, it’s a good idea to get your dog to the vet as soon as you can.

Salmonella symptoms in dogs can include:

The normal temperature of a dog is around 99.5-102.5F degrees (compared with people, who have a normal temperature range of 97.6 – 99.6F). You should take your pooch’s temperature with a thermometer if you think they may be running a fever.

 

Loose poop is very common in dogs and can be triggered by many different things, including eating something abnormal. In more serious cases, it can be a result of viral diseases or toxins. 

 

Also known as emesis, vomiting is when your dog actively empties the contents of their stomach. It usually happens if they’ve eaten something they shouldn’t have. Your dog’s vomit can vary in color, often either yellow or with traces of red blood, depending on what caused it in the first place. 

In extreme circumstances your dog may even throw up contents of their intestines or feces. And finally, vomiting can also be a sign of a blockage in the intestines.

 

This can be caused by your dog not drinking enough water and electrolytes, or losing too much fluid. So be sure to keep your pup well watered!

 

This can look different in every dog, but some signs to watch for include your pup not eating as much, being less active than usual, or just feeling extra sluggish and tired.

And when you’re taking care of your dog, make sure to wash your hands well with soap and warm water. Even after a diagnosis, it’s important to keep this up because an infected dog can continue shedding the bacteria for weeks after they’ve gotten sick.

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First, the medical bit – what exactly is salmonella? It’s a type of bacteria that causes an infection called Salmonellosis (but most people just call it food poisoning). It spreads through contaminated food or from the poop or saliva of an infected animal.

Most dogs pick it up by eating contaminated food like raw eggs or meat, recalled pet food, or wet food that’s been left out too long. It can also spread if they come into contact with the saliva or poop of an infected animal.

Even after your dog gets over the original infection, they can still spread the bacteria in their poop and saliva for a while, so it’s important to keep an eye on things if your pup’s still sick.

Salmonellosis is zoonotic, which just means it can spread between animals and humans. So if your dog does have it, make sure they stay hydrated and keep up with good hygiene to avoid passing it back and forth.

Dogs with weaker immune systems are more at risk, like puppies, older dogs, or those on antibiotics that mess with their gut health. So, those pups need to be extra careful.

If your dog’s throwing up and you think it may be from eating raw meat, don’t freak out – this happens more often than you’d think. And it doesn’t automatically mean they’ve got a salmonella infection. If you can, bring along a fresh poop sample when you go to the vet as it’ll help them figure out what’s going on.

Since salmonellosis shares symptoms with other things like gastroenteritis, parasites, or food allergies, your vet will probably run a few tests to figure out if salmonella is the culprit.

First, the vet will ask for a history of your dog’s health and go over the symptoms you’ve noticed. It can really help speed things up if you let them know right away if your pup has eaten raw meat, eggs, recalled pet food, or been around potentially infected birds. That info will give the vet a clearer idea of what’s going on.

  

Once they’ve established a bit of background info from you, your vet will then take urine and fecal samples for laboratory testing. This is to help rule out other conditions and to identify which specific salmonella bacteria it is. In severe cases, or in the event of sepsis, blood cultures may also be required.

The good news is that you can deal with most mild cases of salmonellosis at home, since treatment for salmonella in dogs is mainly about providing them with the support and care they’ll need for their recovery.

Here are some typical methods as to how to treat salmonella in dogs:
 

Since dehydration is one of the most common symptoms of salmonella, it’s super important to keep your dog hydrated while they’re recovering. Make sure they always have access to clean, fresh water so they can make up for the fluids they’ve lost from vomiting and diarrhea.

Depending on how serious the infection is, your vet may prescribe antibiotics to help your pup fight the salmonella bacteria, or to prevent shock.
 

If your pooch ends up with a severe case of salmonellosis, they might need to be treated in the hospital. Severely dehydrated dogs may need intravenous fluids, and if they’ve developed a blood infection or sepsis, they may require a plasma or blood transfusion.

The good news is that vets are very familiar with the signs of salmonella and know exactly how to treat it. Most of the time, the prognosis is good, and healthy adult dogs usually make a full recovery. However, if sepsis has developed, the situation could be a bit more serious, and the recovery may not be as certain.

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Once your dog is home, make sure that he or she has access to clean water throughout the day. You may need to limit the amount that your dog eats for the first few days after diagnosis, though as your dog grows stronger, you can gradually provide more food until your dog is eating normally again.

Hygiene is a vital part of management for a salmonella infection. In order to prevent cross contamination to you or your family, always wear protective gear such as gloves when picking up your dog’s feces. Wash your hands thoroughly after coming into contact with your dog or handling anything that he or she has touched, and try to avoid being licked.

When you are washing your dog’s food and water dishes, try to do so outside of the kitchen or bathroom sink, and use a brush that is set aside for this specific purpose. Your dog can continue to shed salmonella bacteria for weeks after infection.

You may need to bring your dog back to the veterinarian’s office for a follow-up exam. Depending on your dog’s progress, the veterinarian may want to take additional urine or fecal samples to ensure that the infection has been resolved.