The Biggest Warning Signs Of A Salmonella Or E. Coli Infection In Dogs

If you’ve been staying up to speed on food safety news, then you’ve probably noticed there’s been a stream of recalls recently. Last month, bagged organic carrots sold by Grimmway Farms were recalled due to an outbreak of E. coli, and weeks later, Sunfed Produce, LLC, recalled cucumbers due to a potential salmonella contamination. Earlier this week, a dog food company announced a recall as well.

Blue Ridge Beef has recalled 9,600 pounds of their 2-pound log-style Puppy Mix due to salmonella, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday. The product, distributed between Aug. 6, 2024, and Aug. 23, 2024, tested positive for salmonella after the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services learned that a litter of puppies had become ill after consuming the mix. (Read here for more information on the recalled products and where they were distributed.)

Salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract, according to the Mayo Clinic, which says that some strains of E. coli, a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals, can cause “severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.”

So, if you have concerns about potential exposure to a recalled dog food product, or if you’ve given your dog healthy snacks like carrots and cucumbers and now have questions about potential exposure to infections, here’s what you should know about salmonella and E. coli in dogs:

Salmonellosis is uncommon in dogs, but they can still become carriers and spread the bacteria via their stool and saliva — even if they don’t show symptoms of the infection, the FDA states.

Puppies, however, are more likely to show symptoms, which can include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite and decreased activity level.

Dr. Carly Fox, a senior veterinarian at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York City, explained to HuffPost that the symptoms of salmonella and E. coli infections are similar in dogs.

“In both cases, dogs can develop diarrhea, vomiting, inappetence and lethargy,” she said. “In some instances, fever and abdominal pain can occur. These pathogens can be quite serious and lead to involvement of other organ systems aside from the [gastrointestinal tract].”

She added that while salmonella and E. coli infections are, in general, “uncommon in dogs,” they can be seen more in “dogs that eat a raw diet, are immunocompromised, or have underlying chronic health issues.”

Fox said that if you suspect your dog has been exposed to salmonella or E. coli and is experiencing symptoms, they “must be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.”

She said that salmonella and E. coli infections are “difficult” to diagnose and require fecal cultures, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and systemic bloodwork for proper diagnoses.

“You are not able to diagnose them at home,” she said.

“However, if your pet is having mild gastrointestinal symptoms, you can try feeding them a bland diet (boiled chicken/rice) for a short period of time and holding food for 12 hours to see if their signs resolve,” Fox continued.

She added: “If they continue to vomit during this time, or if their diarrhea worsens or turns bloody, a veterinary visit is indicated.”