When your dog or cat has gastrointestinal issues, everybody suffers. Your pet feels rotten, and you’re on poop pickup duty, which is often in a less-than-solid state. 

This kind of GI upset can be caused by a bacterium named Camylobacter. It’s quite common in cats and dogs and can even be passed on to people. Learning about Campylobacter in dogs and cats can help you protect your pets and your family from unnecessary illness.

What Is Campylobacter?

Campylobacter spp are a group of bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines) in dogs, cats, humans, and a variety of other animals. In fact, several species of Campylobacter are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to people.¹

 While Campylobacter spp can cause illness, it’s also considered a normal bacterium in the intestinal tract of many animals and is even found in the poop of healthy animals.² When there’s an overabundance of it, a pathogenic strain (meaning it’s capable of causing disease), or it produces toxins that harm and inflame the intestinal lining, it can cause illness.

How Are Dogs and Cats Infected with Campylobacter?

There are many ways pets can pick up a Campylobacter infection. 

• Contamination from poop. Campylobacter in dogs and cats often happens from eating food, drinking water, or coming into contact with objects contaminated with infected poop.
• Raw food and milk. Eating raw or undercooked meat and raw or unpasteurized milk can lead to infection.
• Pests. It’s thought that flies and wild rodents can contaminate food and transmit a specific species, called Campylobacter jejuni.1
• Shared spaces. Campylobacter infection is easily spread in places where pets are housed together, such as boarding facilities, shelters, catteries, and pet stores.

How Common Is Campylobacter Infection? 

In pets, Campylobacter is fairly common. One study found detectable levels of Campylobacter spp. in 58% of healthy dogs and 98% of dogs with diarrhea.³

Just because the bacterium is found in the poop doesn’t mean your dog or cat is necessarily feeling sick. Remember, it’s found in healthy animals, too. 

Campylobacter jejuni is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in humans.¹ Each year in the U.S., the CDC estimates that 1.5 million people are infected with Campylobacter.⁴

Signs of Campylobacter Infection in Dogs and Cats

Not all infected pets will show signs, but they can still shed the virus, meaning others can pick up the infection. 

Acute Campylobacter Infection

The acute form typically lasts about five to fifteen days. Signs include:

• Diarrhea (may contain blood or mucus)
• Straining to poop

Chronic Campylobacter Infection

Chronic infections (lasting more than two to three weeks) may cause:

• Abdominal cramps or pain
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Enlarged lymph nodes 
• Straining to poop

How Campylobacter Is Diagnosed

There are several steps involved in diagnosing Campylobacter infection in dogs and cats. Mention any of the following to your veterinarian to aid the process:

• Places your pet has been, such as boarding facilities or dog parks
• Exposure to raw meats or milk
• Exposure to potentially contaminated water, such as communal water bowls, puddles, or ponds

Your veterinarian may recommend diagnostic tests to rule out other causes and assess how your pet is feeling, such as:

• Bloodwork to see if your pet has an elevated white blood cell count that indicates an infection
• Fecal examination to look for intestinal parasites that can cause diarrhea
• PCR test to check for Campylobacter DNA
• Fecal culture and sensitivity

Treating Campylobacter Infection in Pets

Most mild campylobacter infections resolve on their own. Antibiotics may not be necessary unless your pet is very sick or there are multiple pets at home.

When You Have Other Pets at Home

In cases where there are multiple pets in the home, your veterinarian may still recommend antibiotics to help reduce the number of bacteria passed in the poop and shorten infectious period. They may also recommend keeping infected pets away from other pets until the illness as resolved.

Moderate to Severe Cases

More serious cases may be treated with antibiotics and medication for nausea and pain. Your pet may also get fluids to prevent dehydration and a highly digestible diet with added probiotics. 

Severe cases in young kittens and puppies, as well as immunocompromised pets, may require hospitalization for supportive care, such as:

• Intravenous fluids
• Dietary support
• Medications

Preventing Campylobacter Infection 

There are several steps you can take to help prevent infections in both pets and people, as well as manage your pet’s discomfort if they are infected.

Hygiene

Proper hygiene is the best way you can limit the spread of Campylobacter.  

• Clean and disinfect pet items regularly, wearing disposable gloves.
• Wash your hands before and after handling any of your pet’s items.
• Immediately pick up poop from your yard.
• Prevent pets from eating their own or other animal’s poop.
• Clean and disinfect any soiled areas in the home.
• Keep pets away from human food prep and storage areas.
• Take measures to eliminate or minimize rodents and flies.
• Train pets not to lick people’s faces, especially children, seniors, and the immunocompromised.

Food and Water

• Don’t feed pets raw or undercooked meat or unpasteurized milk
• Provide fresh, clean water in a disinfected bowl
• Don’t let pets drink from communal bowls, puddles, ponds, or streams
• Feed a high-quality diet to keep pets happy and healthy

Ask your veterinarian about which diet they recommend to support gut health and immune fuction. They may also recommend a probiotic depending your pet’s health needs. 

Stress Reduction

Help to minimize and manage stress with things like:

• Regular exercise, at least 30 minutes a day
• Mental enrichment, such as food puzzles and training
• Calming pheromone sprays or diffusers
• Calming treats

For pets with high stress and anxiety, consult with your veterinarian or a certified behavior consultant for ways to help manage and reduce stress.

It may sound scary, knowing that something so common can easily be picked up by your pet and potentially be passed to your family. Remember, most cases resolve on their own, and a consistent cleaning protocol greatly reduces the chance of infection.