04/19/2024
We’d like to make you aware of a new concerning illness in dogs that we’re now seeing here in the High Desert. It’s called “Salmon Poisoning Disease,” but it’s not a poisoning, nor is it only carried in salmon. It’s actually a bacterial infection carried by a flatworm in infected fish. This is a disease we usually don't seen in California, but there have now been a handful of cases in the High Desert (and more seen in San Bernardino and LA counties); all local patients had eaten raw fish from Hesperia Lake. An expert veterinarian reached out to us yesterday, explaining that dogs can possibly fall ill from just swimming in or drinking the water.
Symptoms of the disease include lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. If you visit Hesperia Lake with your dog, please monitor them closely for these symptoms and alert your vet that they've possibly been exposed to Salmon Poisoning Disease if they have symptoms. This disease is usually deadly if not treated, but dogs can make a full recovery if caught in time.
Wising you and your pups and safe and happy weekend!
Animal Care Hospital officials are sounding the alarm about a potentially fatal disease affecting dogs in Southern California and the High Desert.
