Fish Spines, Catfish and Dogs in Florida

A freshly caught fish can be more dangerous to a dog than it looks.

Florida anglers routinely handle species with:

• Sharp dorsal spines
• Pectoral spines
• Teeth
• Barbs
• Hooks still attached

Catfish deserve special attention because their spines can cause painful puncture wounds.

Why Dogs Get Hurt

Dogs may try to:

• Grab a flopping fish
• Bite a discarded carcass
• Investigate bait
• Paw at a fish on deck

That puts the mouth, tongue, paws and face at risk.

Catfish Spines

Florida catfish can have sharp spines capable of penetrating skin.

Punctures may cause:

• Immediate pain
• Swelling
• Tissue injury
• Infection risk

Keep dogs completely away from landed catfish.

Do Not Let the Dog “Help”

Even a calm dog can suddenly lunge when a fish starts flopping.

Before landing a fish:

1. Move dog behind you
2. Secure leash or deck position
3. Use net or fish gripper
4. Use pliers
5. Keep fish away from dog

Fish on the Beach

Surf-fishing dogs should not be allowed to grab fish lying in the sand.

The fish may still have:

• Hook in mouth
• Leader attached
• Sharp spines

Fish on a Boat

Keep landed fish in:

• Fish box
• Cooler
• Livewell

rather than loose on deck.

Fish-Cleaning Stations

These areas can be dangerous because they may contain:

• Spines
• Bones
• Hooks
• Scales
• Fish heads
• Spoiled scraps

Keep dogs away.

Puncture Wounds

If your dog is punctured:

• Move dog away
• Control bleeding with gentle pressure
• Contact veterinarian

Deep punctures can trap bacteria below the skin.

Mouth Injuries

Seek veterinary care promptly for punctures involving:

• Tongue
• Gums
• Roof of mouth
• Throat

Eye Injuries

Treat a spine injury near the eye as an emergency.

Do not attempt to remove deeply embedded material yourself.

Do Not Ignore Small Holes

A tiny puncture can still involve:

• Deep tissue
• Retained foreign material
• Infection

Prevention

• Keep dog behind casting area
• Use closed fish storage
• Use pliers/dehooker
• Clean deck after landing fish
• Keep dog away from cleaning tables

Related Guides

• Fish Hooks and Dogs: Emergency Guide
• Bait and Dogs: What Is Toxic?
• Fishing Line and Pets
• Fishing With Your Dog in Florida
• Pufferfish Poisoning and Dogs

The safest dog around a freshly landed fish is one that never gets close enough to touch it.

Sources

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — Fish Handling: myfwc.com