Meat & Fish
Raw salmon: Safe for Dogs and Cats?
If your pet ate this, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.
Raw or undercooked salmon can transmit Salmon Poisoning Disease, a rickettsial infection that is fatal in the majority of untreated dogs; this is a veterinary emergency, not just an upset stomach risk.
Toxic principle: Neorickettsia helminthoeca (Salmon Poisoning Disease), carried by the fluke Nanophyetus salmincola in raw salmonid fish
Watch for
- Sudden high fever
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Persistent vomiting
- Diarrhea, sometimes bloody
- Without prompt treatment, up to 90% of affected dogs die within 7 to 10 days
Cats are not susceptible to Salmon Poisoning Disease, but raw salmon can still carry Salmonella, E. coli, other parasites, and thiaminase that depletes vitamin B1, so it should still be avoided.
Toxic principle: Salmonella spp./E. coli contamination; Nanophyetus salmincola parasite; thiaminase enzyme depleting vitamin B1
Watch for
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal upset
- With chronic thiaminase exposure: appetite loss, weakness, neurological signs
Sources
- ScienceDirect Topics, "Salmon Poisoning Disease" (species susceptibility)
- PetMD, "Can Cats Eat Salmon?"
Reviewed 2026-07-12
This page is for informational purposes only and is not veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian about your pet's diet and health.
Read our methodology for how every verdict is sourced and reviewed.