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Questions and Answers
Related to the Outbreak of Human Illness due to Salmonella Schwarzengrund Associated with having Dry Pet Food in the Home
- What is salmonellosis? What are the symptoms in humans?
- How do people get infected with Salmonella?
- How is salmonellosis diagnosed?
- Can dogs or cats become infected with Salmonella? What are the symptoms in dogs and cats?
- Has this outbreak been associated with salmonellosis in dogs or cats?
- How do I prevent myself or my family from getting salmonellosis from my dog or cat?
- If I have a dog or a cat that eats dry pet food, what should I do?
- My dog (or cat) has eaten one the recalled brands of dry pet food. Neither the dog (cat) nor any of my household members are ill. I still have the bag. What should I do?
- My dog or cat ate one of the recalled brands of dry pet food and someone in my household became ill. We still have the bag. What should I do?
- Should I stop feeding dry pet food to my dog or cat?
- Where can I find additional information?
What is salmonellosis? What are the symptoms in humans?
Salmonellosis is an infection caused by a bacterium called Salmonella. Most people infected with Salmonella develop fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps 1272 hours after exposure. Illness usually lasts 47 days, and most people recover without treatment.
However, the diarrhea can be so severe in some people that they need to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites. In this situation, the infection can cause death unless the patient is treated promptly with antibiotics. Infants, elderly people, and people with impaired immune systems are more likely than other people to become severely ill.
How do people get infected with Salmonella?
Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella usually are transmitted to humans when we eat food contaminated with animal feces or food contaminated by an infected food handler who forgot to wash his or her hands with soap after using the bathroom. Salmonella is also transmitted when contaminated objects or fingers are put into the mouth. The feces of some pets, especially reptiles and pets with diarrhea, can contain Salmonella, and people can be infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with these feces.
Contaminated food often originates from animals–for example, beef, poultry, milk, and eggs. However, any food, including vegetables, can become contaminated. Contaminated food usually looks and smells normal, but thorough cooking kills Salmonella.
How is salmonellosis diagnosed?
Salmonella infection is usually diagnosed by culture of a stool sample. In some instances, it can also be cultured from other body sources such as blood.
Can dogs or cats become infected with Salmonella? What are the symptoms in dogs and cats?
Yes, dogs and cats can get salmonellosis. They also can carry Salmonella without getting sick. Pets that become ill may stop eating and may develop diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Some cats do not have diarrhea, but have decreased appetite, fever, and excess salivation. If your pet appears ill, seek veterinary care. Most ill pets recover completely.
Has this outbreak been associated with salmonellosis in dogs or cats?
Illness related to this outbreak has not been reported in pets. However, the outbreak strain of Salmonella Schwarzengrund was isolated from fecal specimens from dogs that ate dry pet food in the households of two ill persons.
How do I prevent myself or my family from getting salmonellosis from my dog or cat?
After petting, touching, handling, or feeding your pet, and especially after contact with feces, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and running water. Always wash hands before preparing food and before eating. Always wash hands before preparing baby bottles or baby food and after changing diapers.
If I have a dog or a cat that eats dry pet food, what should I do?
- Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap right after handling dry pet foods and treats.
- Wash hands before preparing food and before eating.
- Keep infants away from pet feeding areas. Do not allow them to touch or eat dog food.
- Follow the Food and Drug Administrations Safe Handling Tips for Pet Foods and Treats http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html
My dog (or cat) has eaten one the recalled brands of dry pet food. Neither the dog (cat) nor any of my household members are ill. I still have the bag. What should I do?
Do not feed any more of that bag of dry pet food to your pet or to any other animal (including wild animals). Place the container of dog food in a trash container with a closed lid outside the home where humans and animals are not likely to contact it. Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.
If anyone in your household becomes ill with diarrhea and has bloody stools, fever, or diarrhea lasting more than 3 days, he or she should seek medical care. If your pet develops diarrhea, contact your veterinarian.
A list of recalled products can be found at http://www.marspetcare.com/safety/index.html.
My dog or cat ate one of the recalled brands of dry pet food and someone in my household became ill. We still have the bag. What should I do?
Do not feed any more of that bag of dry pet food to your pet or to any other animal (including wild animals). Place the container of dog food in a trash container with a closed lid outside the home where humans and animals are not likely to contact it. Wash your hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.
If the person in your household is still ill, contact your health care provider. Also, contact your local health department because their epidemiologists might want to investigate the illness. If your pet develops diarrhea, contact your veterinarian.
A list of recalled products can be found at http://www.marspetcare.com/safety/index.html.
Should I stop feeding dry pet food to my dog or cat?
No. Illnesses have been linked only with brands of dry pet food produced at a single manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. Commercially produced dry pet food can provide your dog or cat with a balanced diet, which is important for its health. Raw diets, especially raw meat diets, are not recommended because of the risk for salmonellosis and other infections that can affect pets and their owners.
Where can I find additional information?
Additional information about Salmonella:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/salmonellosis_g.htm#What%20is%20salmonellosis
List of recalled products:
http://www.marspetcare.com/safety/index.html
Tips for safely handling pet food and treats:
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html
Tips on hand washing:
http://nasphv.org/Documents/HandwashingPoster.pdf
Information about salmonellosis in dogs and cats:
- http://www.avma.org/reference/zoonosis/znsalmonellosis.asp
- http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/browse_by_animal.htm
- http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/salmonellosis.htm
US Food and Drug Administration Press release relating to the recall of dry pet food:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01689.html
Pennsylvania Health Department Warns Consumers About Dog Food Salmonella Risk
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-24-2007/0004651210&EDATE;
Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infections Caused by Contaminated Dry Dog Food --- United States, 2006--2007 MMWR Weekly, May 16, 2008 / 57(19);521-524
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NOTICE: The information on this page is no longer being updated and may have changed. The information is accurate only as of the last page update.
Content Source: National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
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