Like humans, pets can develop salmonella from eating foods that are infected with the bacteria. Salmonellosis is an infection that leads to disorders like gastroenteritis, septicemia, and spontaneous abortions in pets. It can be transmitted to humans from pets, so it is essential that you keep your pets away from any foods that could be infected with salmonella in order to preserve your own health.
Salmonella can bring on a variety of different symptoms, and dogs and cats both respond differently to the illness. Pets may vomit, develop a skin disease, suffer from weight loss and anorexia, have swollen lymph nodes, or develop a fever, lethargy, shock, diarrhea, dehydration, miscarriages, and more. There are also chronic forms of salmonellosis which will produce symptoms like a fever, weight loss, loss of blood, non-intestinal infections and diarrhea.
There are a variety of ways that pets can contract salmonella. Oftentimes, it is the result of eating food with salmonella bacteria. This is why it is very important that all pet owners make sure that the foods that they are feeding their pets aren't carrying the bacteria that could bring on this terrible disease. According to CBS News, Natura Pets is recalling their dry foods for both dogs and cats because there is a possibility that they are contaminated with salmonella bacteria.
The recall is voluntary, and was announced on April 19th. It includes all dry pet foods that have expiration dates prior to March 24th, 2013. The company says that they will be recalling all dry foods that are by California Natural, Healthwise, Innova, Karma, and EVO. The products have been sold at veterinary clinics and pet specialty retailers throughout the United States and other countries. The products were also sold online.
Also this year, a dog treat manufacturer called Kasel Associated Industries had to issue a recall over several popular brands of dog biscuits because the treats may have traces of salmonella bacteria. The company says that biscuits from Boots & Barkly, BIXBI, Petco, Best Bully Stick, Colorado Naturals, and Nature's Deli need to be retuned and pet owners should not give the meaty treats or biscuits to their animals.
Kasel Industries says that they have not received any reports of pets being infected after consuming the treats, but the company wants to be extra careful when caring for animals. Earlier this month a company called Bravo! also recalled some of their raw-diet frozen pet foods because of a risk of salmonella bacteria.
If you own any of these products, veterinarians highly recommend that you participate in the recall. If you continue to feed your pet a contaminated food, it may result in serious injury that can lead to extreme discomfort for your pet. Animals that already have other medical conditions may even pass away after obtaining the salmonella illness. A veterinarian can examine your dog if you believe that he or she may have obtained this disease.
Dogs infected won't show any clinical symptoms unless they develop gastroenteritis, which is an illness that affects the gastrointestinal system, and will cause your pet to stop eating. In some cases, dogs will develop depression, will become fatigued, and may run a fever of 104 degrees or more. Your vet will want to make sure that the symptoms are not from a parasite, a dietary-stress issue, or drug or toxin-induced stress before determining that your pet has salmonella.
Some vets will want to conduct blood cultures in addition with the fecal and urine tests to confirm whether your dog has salmonella. If your pet has the illness, there are times that he or she may need to stay at the veterinary hospital for treatment, especially if the animal has suffered from dehydration as a result. If you need more information about salmonella and pets then you need to contact a local vet today!