“It’s just something we want to make sure pet owners are aware of,” said Jason Julienne, a senior environmental scientist for the north central region of the state. “A few years ago there was some incidence of this and some dogs died. We just want them to be vigilant.”

A bacteria-like organism is transmitted by parasitic flatworms, or flukes, and most of the northern part of the state is considered to be their native range. The agency is advising dog owners to keep their pets away from raw salmon, steelhead trout and other freshwater fish carcasses.