Salmonella in dogs: signs, infection and hygiene

Salmonella in dogs are bacteria that can colonise the gut. Dogs rarely become seriously ill from them. But many carry salmonella without showing any signs and shed it in their faeces from time to time. Because salmonella can also make people ill, hygiene in everyday life with a dog is important. A known source is raw pet food.

What is salmonella in dogs?

Salmonella are bacteria, not parasites. Illness is rare in dogs. Those more often affected are puppies that have taken in very large numbers of bacteria, and adult dogs that have recently been in hospital or have another illness. Many dogs are carriers: they seem healthy but shed the bacteria again and again and can infect other animals and people.

How do you recognise a salmonella infection?

• Diarrhoea: Sudden diarrhoea is typical.
• Severe cases: If the bacteria get into the blood, blood poisoning can develop. Sometimes the lungs are affected too.
• Pregnant dogs: In them, an infection can lead to a miscarriage.
• No signs: Many carriers show nothing at all. Whether your dog has salmonella can only be determined in the laboratory.

How does a dog become infected?

Salmonella are shed in faeces and passed on via contaminated food, water or objects. The US health authority CDC recommends not feeding dogs a raw diet, because salmonella and listeria have been found in raw pet food, including packaged food. If you still feed your dog raw, clean kitchen hygiene is especially important.

How does the vet detect salmonella?

The vet goes by the signs and has a stool sample, sometimes also a tissue sample, examined in the laboratory.

How is salmonella in dogs treated?

• Blood poisoning: Early treatment is what counts here, often with antibiotics and fluids into the vein.
• Intestinal form: It is difficult to treat in a targeted way. Antibiotics are not always recommended, because they can promote resistance and disturb the normal gut flora.
• Patience: The signs can disappear while the bacteria remain in the body. Follow the vet’s instructions on medication, dose and duration exactly.

How to protect yourself and your family

• Wash your hands: Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with your dog, its food, bowls, toys and above all faeces, even if you used a poo bag.
• Dispose of faeces: Pick up your dog’s faeces and dispose of them properly.
• Keep food separate: Store dog food separately from your own food and don’t clean bowls in the sink where you prepare food.
• Supervise children: Make sure children under five wash their hands after playing with the dog.
• With diarrhoea: If your dog has diarrhoea, be especially careful to avoid close contact with its faeces and have it checked by the vet.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version): Disorders Caused by Bacteria in the Digestive System of Dogs, section Salmonella, accessed 2026.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Healthy Pets: Dogs, accessed 2026.

In dogs, salmonella is rarely dramatic, but it is a good reason for clean hands. With simple hygiene you protect your dog, yourself and your family.

Read more: Guide: digestion in dogs