Is Cyclospora a Threat to Dogs? Here’s What Pet Parents Need to Know
While it’s important to get in your fruits and veggies, the recent cyclospora outbreak has made it a little difficult this summer. According to the New York Times, cyclospora has affected “tens of thousands of people” who had consumed “contaminated iceberg lettuce.”
Thankfully, the publication didn’t say anything about canine companions getting ill from cyclospora. In an interview with Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Andrea Perkins, director of Auburn’s Public and One Health program and a clinical assistant professor of infection control and biosecurity, shared whether she believed our pets are at risk from the outbreak.
“The question comes up, does it affect animals? You may be worried about your dogs or your cats at home, but this is something that primarily impacts humans,” said Dr. Perkins.
Dr. Andrew Jones, DMV, shared similar sentiments in a July 2026 YouTube video.
“Looking at it in a big whole picture, that's not really a concern. Our dogs and cats, they're not at risk. It's us that we need to worry about,” said Dr. Jones.
The vet clarified that dogs can still get GI upset from either eating something disagreeable or coming in contact with a parasite. He said if your pet is vomiting or having loose stools, you need to first see if they are “alert” and hydrated. If not, please contact veterinary services ASAP.
He said, however, if your animal’s behavior has not changed, isn’t frequently vomiting or having diarrhea, and you’ve determined they are not dehydrated, you can slowly introduce foods like “plain bland rice” and “chicken” following a period of fasting and after speaking with your dog’s vet.