I had a chat with the vet the other day about things to watch for with the dogs as we move into summer months, and would like to share a concern that some people may need to watch for, depending on where you live or where you may travel to.  I told him that I let the dogs swim in the river and that we live near a river, and he gave me a very serious statement on the dangers of salmon poisoning.  Dogs should NEVER be allowed to chew or contact certain types of raw fish, including salmon and other anadromous fish (fish that swim upstream to spawn- they live in the sea and breed in fresh water).  Our rivers here in Northern California are full of salmon and trout and such… I knew a dog once that got salmon poisoning from playing with a dead carcass by the river and if not for the quick action of her owner, she would have died.  It is potentially fatal, and its caused by a parasite.  Only dogs seem to be susceptible to this- cats and bears and other animals can eat raw fish without consequence, but not dogs.  Symptoms occur within 5-7 days (but can be delayed up to 30 days) and death occurs within 7-14 days.  Left untreated, the mortality rate is 90%.  Symptoms include

I don't know if dogs can get this disease from salmon or fish that you purchase for consumption- given the potential consequences, I would certainly avoid giving your dog salmon, trout, or steelhead, especially if its raw, and especially if it came from the Pacific Northwest (I'd avoid it anyway because of possible bones).