Well, I did a little research and here’s what I found out, per County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health:

“What is Salmon Poisoning Disease?

Salmon Poisoning Disease is caused by a bacteria (Neorickettsia) that lives inside a parasite (Nanophyetus) that can infect trout and salmon. Dogs can catch the illness when they eat raw or undercooked trout or salmon that is infected with the disease. Dogs become very ill from the bacteria, but not from the parasite. Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, severe lethargy, and physical collapse and possible death. The disease causes no harm to the fish itself.

Do people get Salmon Poisoning Disease?

Humans that eat raw fish or who do not practice good sanitation in preparing fish can become infected by the parasite (but not the bacteria), and experience intestinal illness, usually mild.

Which fish can cause the disease?

Salmon Poisoning Disease is native to Northern California, but does not occur naturally in Southern California. However, fish (trout, salmon) from Northern California are commonly “planted” in Southern California lakes for sport fishing. Local fishermen and veterinarians in Southern California need to be aware of that local lakes may be stocked with fish containing this parasite and bacteria. ”

A friend of ours in Alaska, who is a salmon fisherwoman by trade, absolutely hates salmon and would never eat it - she refers to it as “dog food,” as that is where most of their salmon goes - to dog food companies. I am sure it is cooked - but I know a lot of folks up there feed raw salmon to dogs. Perhaps they are unaware of SPD, or maybe it isn’t an issue there.

Katie