Feeding Fido Raw Pet Food a Risky Choice: FDA Doing so raises risk of food poisoning

[BVMS]

FYI
Feeding Fido Raw Pet Food a Risky Choice: FDA

Doing so raises risk of food poisoning for both you and your pet, agency warns

http://consumer.healthday.com/vitami...ts-689336.html


TUESDAY, July 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- You may think you're doing what's best for your beloved pets when you feed them raw food, but you're actually putting their health -- and yours -- at risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Raw pet food -- which consists primarily of uncooked meat or poultry, organs and bones -- can carry disease-causing bacteria. Two types of bacteria are particularly dangerous to both pets and people -- salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
People who favor a raw diet for their pets often note that feral dogs and cats catch prey and eat it raw, noted Dr. William Burkholder, veterinary medical officer in the agency's division of animal feeds.
"That's true, but we don't know how many of these animals get sick or die as a result of doing that. Since sick feral animals are rarely taken to a veterinarian when they're ill, there's no way to collect that information," he said in an agency news release.
Symptoms of salmonella-related illness in animals include: vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite and decreased levels of activity. Symptoms of listeria-related illness in pets include: nausea, diarrhea, fever and neurological problems.
You should cook raw meat and poultry to kill any harmful bacteria before you give the food to your pets, the FDA said.
You're also at risk if you handle raw pet food and fail to take proper precautions and accidentally get bacteria in your mouth.
"If you're going to handle raw foods, you need to pay particular attention to good hygienic practices," Burkholder said. "Wash your hands and anything else that comes into contact with the product with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds."
Feeding raw food to your pet also increases the risk that your pet will spread disease-causing bacteria.
"Even if the dog or cat doesn't get sick, they can become carriers of salmonella and transfer the bacteria to their surroundings, and then people can get the disease from contact with the infected environment," Burkholder noted.
Once salmonella is established in a pet's digestive system, the animal releases the bacteria when it has a bowel movement, and the contamination continues to spread.
"Feeding raw foods to pets increases the risk that both the pet and the people around the pet will encounter bacteria that cause foodborne illness, particularly if the products are not carefully handled and fed. This is certainly one factor that should be considered when selecting diets for your pet," Burkholder noted.
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about foodborne illness in people.
SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, June 30, 2014

[yellow dog]

This has be known for many years.

[MikePal]

When I see my dogs chowing down on a stinky old carcass they found in the bush, the only issue I have is with their breath after....or if they decide to roll in it.

The canine stomach is built to handle the other issues.

[Sharon]

FYI
Feeding Fido Raw Pet Food a Risky Choice: FDA

Doing so raises risk of food poisoning for both you and your pet, agency warns

http://consumer.healthday.com/vitami...ts-689336.html


TUESDAY, July 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- You may think you're doing what's best for your beloved pets when you feed them raw food, but you're actually putting their health -- and yours -- at risk, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
Raw pet food -- which consists primarily of uncooked meat or poultry, organs and bones -- can carry disease-causing bacteria. Two types of bacteria are particularly dangerous to both pets and people -- salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
People who favor a raw diet for their pets often note that feral dogs and cats catch prey and eat it raw, noted Dr. William Burkholder, veterinary medical officer in the agency's division of animal feeds.
"That's true, but we don't know how many of these animals get sick or die as a result of doing that. Since sick feral animals are rarely taken to a veterinarian when they're ill, there's no way to collect that information," he said in an agency news release.
Symptoms of salmonella-related illness in animals include: vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite and decreased levels of activity. Symptoms of listeria-related illness in pets include: nausea, diarrhea, fever and neurological problems.
You should cook raw meat and poultry to kill any harmful bacteria before you give the food to your pets, the FDA said.
You're also at risk if you handle raw pet food and fail to take proper precautions and accidentally get bacteria in your mouth.
"If you're going to handle raw foods, you need to pay particular attention to good hygienic practices," Burkholder said. "Wash your hands and anything else that comes into contact with the product with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds."
Feeding raw food to your pet also increases the risk that your pet will spread disease-causing bacteria.
"Even if the dog or cat doesn't get sick, they can become carriers of salmonella and transfer the bacteria to their surroundings, and then people can get the disease from contact with the infected environment," Burkholder noted.
Once salmonella is established in a pet's digestive system, the animal releases the bacteria when it has a bowel movement, and the contamination continues to spread.
"Feeding raw foods to pets increases the risk that both the pet and the people around the pet will encounter bacteria that cause foodborne illness, particularly if the products are not carefully handled and fed. This is certainly one factor that should be considered when selecting diets for your pet," Burkholder noted.
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about foodborne illness in people.
SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, news release, June 30, 2014

........................


Thanks for the update Dr. vet. Appreciate reading anything new that comes across your desk.

.......edited for clarification

[last5oh_302]

I just ordered a 40 lb box of Chicken necks and backs. Dang nabbit!

[yellow dog]

Interesting read.

[Sharon]

"This has be known for many years" YD

LOL !!!! that made my day Sharon !

"Thank you for your post Dr.Vet." quote Sharon

He is a vet and has made very valuable contributions here. I said that hoping his opinion would be respected. We've lost a lot good people here because of one line zingers . I wasn't being sarcastic, nor directing a comment to Mike Pal.

[BVMS]

People's behaviour will always depend on their tolerance for risk. However without knowing the facts making risk managements decisions is hard.

I was just trying to inform the community of the risks involved. After all isn't more facts better than less?

Please if anyone has anything substantive to say, for instance, a scientific study that says otherwise please bring it to the table I'd be happy to see it.

[C.A. in TO]

My question is why is feeding raw deemed so dangerous? Any of us who eat meat have to handle it and it appears that we are NOT dropping like flies. Heck, I even eat beef raw and love sushi. The only reason I don't feed my dogs raw is the issue of storage space.

[terrym]

This one has been beat to death so hopefully you have thick skin and this doesn't turn you off on this place. Your expertise here has great value. Thanks for posting.