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Vet Care Shows You Care

If you care for your pet, and we know you do, then it is important to also allow a veterinarian to care for them. Your vet is the one who can provide vaccines, check your pet for ongoing conditions like arthritis and parasitic infections, and recommend medications to treat fleas and ticks. Most vet are very familiar with treated dogs and cats, and many will also treat rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and other household pets. If you'd like to learn more about veterinary care, then plan on spending some time on this website. It's a good resource for any curious pet owner.

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Vet Care Shows You Care

How Vets Diagnose And Treat Salmonella In Dogs

by Elijah Romero

Salmonella is a bacterial disease that can affect dogs as well as humans and many other mammals. Dogs can contract it after eating raw or under-cooked meat. Sometimes, they may get a salmonella infection after coming into contact with the feces or saliva of another dog who has a salmonella infection. Most dogs do recover from salmonella, but proper vet care is important. 

If your dog is showing signs of a salmonella infection, take them to the pet hospital. The following are signs of salmonella infections:

  • Fever
  • Lethargy
  • Vomiting
  • Serious diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Depression and lack of interest

How do vets diagnose salmonella?

When you and your dog arrive at the veterinary hospital, you can expect the vet to ask you some questions about their behavior and activities over the past few days. Your vet will be trying to determine if your dog could have eaten some raw or under-cooked meat or if they may have had contact with a dog who had a salmonella infection. Make sure you tell the vet about everything your dog has eaten and about any visits to the dog park, kennel, or other places with other dogs.

In addition to reviewing your dog's history, the vet will also take a sample of your dog's feces, urine, or saliva and test it for the presence of salmonella bacteria. 

How do vets treat salmonella?

If the vet does find that your dog has a salmonella infection, then they will likely administer antibiotics via an IV. Delivering the antibiotics via IV gets them into your dog's system faster so that they can start fighting the bacteria and helping your dog recover sooner. Salmonella can sometimes spread to the bloodstream and lead to sepsis, which is an infection of the blood, and IV antibiotics can also help prevent or treat this.

In addition to antibiotics, most dogs need IV fluids and an electrolyte drip. This helps correct the dehydration that arises from vomiting and diarrhea. Many dogs will not drink or eat on their own with a salmonella infection, so the IV nutrition keeps them going. 

Your dog should be able to return home after a few days, at most, at the vet hospital. When they do return home, you will want to handle them with care for at least two weeks. They can spread salmonella bacteria in their saliva and feces, so do not let your dog lick you, and wash your hands really thoroughly after each time you touch your dog.

Most dogs recover from a salmonella infection with good vet care. So, if your dog is showing symptoms of a salmonella infection, seek a diagnosis and treatment ASAP.

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