Meat & Fish
Can dogs and cats eat raw salmon?
Compare the dog and cat answers together, then open the full guide for the pet you are asking about.
If your pet ate this, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately.
Call ASPCA: (888) 426-4435One food, two pets
What changes between dogs and cats?
The verdict changes by species: emergency for dogs and caution for cats.
The two answers are not interchangeable. Compare the bottom line, named hazard, and signs to watch below, then use the full guide for your pet.
- Safety label differs
- Bottom line differs
- Named hazard differs
- Signs to watch differs
Raw salmon safety for dogs
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
Raw salmon safety for cats
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.
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