A new international outbreak of Salmonella that has sickened at least 27 confirmed Canadians. The infections have largely been linked to kibble and dog treats. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) described that diseases have been documented as recently as mid-February to mid-August 2025. These diseases have sent people of all ages, from babies to the elderly, to the hospital.
The outbreak has had a high concentration of cases in Alberta, which has reported 13 cases. British Columbia is a close second at 12 cases, with Ontario and the Northwest Territories each reporting one case as well. In those infected, six of those infected were hospitalized due to severity of their symptoms.
Case Demographics and Illness Spread
New case demographics show about 59 percent of those impacted are women. The outbreak touched people of all ages, with ages ranging from 0 – 87 years old. What this does show is how pervasive the sickness truly is.
Public health officials noticed that most people who became ill had a known exposure to dog food. These individuals developed symptoms within hours of ingesting the products.
“Many people who became sick reported handling dog food and treats prior to becoming ill, including kibble, and dehydrated and freeze-dried treats,” – Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
The distribution of the dates of illness onset suggests an association with specific batches or varieties of pet food and treats. These products were potentially contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis bacteria.
Risks and Transmission
Salmonella can cause life-threatening infections. This is particularly important for at-risk populations such as young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. Even dogs that seem completely healthy can still be colonized and able to transmit the bacteria, posing a risk to pet owners.
Dr. Isaac Bogoch emphasized the potential for transmission between pets and humans, stating:
“Dogs can shed the infection in their stool and humans can contaminate their hands by petting the dog or by unintentionally touching the stool or having the dog lick their face even.”
Canada is in the midst of a Salmonella infection outbreak. These cases aren’t necessarily isolated, as they are associated with snakes and hedgehogs, underscoring a rising worry regarding bacterial infections from animals.
The agency recommends that pet owners practice safe food handling and hygiene measures when feeding raw pet food and treats. These products may be available as fresh, frozen, dehydrated or freeze-dried items.
“Raw pet food and treats may be fresh, frozen, dehydrated or freeze-dried,” – Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Health agencies highlight the need to practice proper hygiene precautions after touching pets or pet food. Strict hygiene and biosecurity precautions should include pet owners washing hands with soap and water immediately after handling their animals. This simple practice is fundamental to reducing the chance of infection.
The BC CDC further underscored the importance of protecting those most vulnerable from infections.
“Given the very close contact between pets and people, there can be many opportunities for infections to be transmitted between them. Preventing infection is especially important for certain groups, such as young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people,” – BC CDC
