Canine Salmonellosis | Salmonellosis in Dogs

There are numerous Salmonella serotypes that may cause disease. The bacteria may originate from animals shedding the organism (e.g., infected dogs and cats) or from contaminated foods (especially poultry and eggs).

Salmonella spp. are seldom confirmed to cause dogs or cats GI disease, even though the bacteria are often present in the colon and/or mesenteric lymp nodes. Salmonella spp. may produce acute or chronic diarrhea, septicemia, and/or sudden death, especially in very young dogs and cats. Salmonellosis in dogs and cats can produce a syndrome that closely mimics parvoviral enteritis. The fact that samonellosis occasionally develops during or after canine parvoviral enteritis makes the situation more confusing.

Culture of Salmonella spp. from the blood confirms septicemia. Diagnosis of GI salmonellosis requires culture of the organism from the feces or mucosa, appropriate clinical signs, elimination of other causes (e.g., parvovirus), and response to therapy. However, Salmonella may be cultures from normal dogs and cats; therefore, definitive diagnosis can be difficult. Successful fecal culture often necessitates use of enrichment and/or selective media. Identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be a sensitive method of diagnosis.

If salmonellosis in dogs and cats is diagnosed, treatment depends on the animal’s clinical signs. Septicemic animals should receive supportive therapy and parental antibiotics as determined by susceptibility testing, but quinolones, potentiated sulfa drugs, and chloramphenicol are often good initial choices.

Dogs and cats with diarrhea may need only supportive therapy; antibiotics are a dubious value and might promote a carrier state. Infected animals might be public health risks and should be isolated from other animals, at least until they are asymptomatic. even when signs disappear, reculturing of feces is reasonable to ensure that shedding has stopped. Individuals in contact with the animals, its environment, and its waste should wear protective clothing and wash with disinfectants such as phenolic compounds and bleach.

The prognosis is usually good in dogs and cats with only diarrhea but guarded in septicemic animals.

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