Raw fish (sashimi, sushi)
CautionRaw fish is not recommended for dogs because of parasites and bacteria, and raw salmon or trout can transmit salmon poisoning disease, which kills about 90% of untreated dogs.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- High fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abnormal or enlarged lymph nodes
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Dehydration
- Weight loss
More about this food
Three separate risks arrive with a piece of raw fish.
Salmon poisoning disease is the one that kills. AKC states plainly that raw salmon is not safe for dogs and that roughly 90% of untreated cases end in death. Per the Merck Veterinary Manual, the agent is a Neorickettsia carried inside a fluke that lives on salmonids; signs usually appear about seven days after ingestion and can be delayed up to 33 days, and include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, weight loss and lymphadenopathy, with enlarged lymph nodes in more than 70% of cases. Treatment is doxycycline at 5 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for at least seven days, with improvement typically within 24 hours of starting antimicrobials. Reported cases cluster in the Pacific Northwest — coastal Oregon, Washington and northern California — which is exactly where dogs get into fishing scraps, stream-caught trout and salmon carcasses on the riverbank.
Parasites are the second risk. The CDC notes that anisakid larvae are most common in predatory species such as herring, cod, mackerel and sculpin, and that human infections cluster where raw dishes like sashimi, ceviche and pickled fish are popular.
Bacteria are the third. AKC warns that raw fish risks carrying Salmonella and Listeria, and PetMD cites the AVMA's position that uncooked fish poses a greater risk of harboring and transmitting parasites. FDA testing of 196 raw pet food samples found Salmonella in 15 and Listeria monocytogenes in 32 — a reminder that a dog shedding these organisms puts the household at risk even when it looks healthy.
Add soy sauce, wasabi and the salt on a poke bowl, and there is nothing left to recommend.
Write down what species, how much and when, then call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 — and say if it was salmon or trout. Even if today goes fine, watch for the next month for fever, appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea and swollen lymph nodes, and tell the clinic about the raw fish if any appear. Do not induce vomiting at home.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog ate a piece of sushi off the counter. Is that an emergency?
- One piece rarely causes a crisis, but note the species, amount and time. If it was salmon, trout or steelhead, call your veterinarian today because salmon poisoning disease is treatable and fatal if missed.
- Why is raw salmon singled out?
- Salmonids carry a fluke that hosts the bacterium behind salmon poisoning disease, which kills roughly 90% of untreated dogs. Signs start around seven days later and can be delayed up to 33 days, so owners often fail to connect them.
- Does sushi-grade or previously frozen fish make it safe?
- Freezing kills parasite larvae, but it does not address Salmonella or Listeria, and you cannot verify the freezing history at home. Cook fish through before giving it to a dog.