The dangers of the raw food diet

Monday April 27th, 2009

Despite their growing popularity, raw food diets for your dog may actually pose a threat to your dog's health. According to a study published in the November/December 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, raw foods can be a source of the potentially deadly Salmonella infection.

Link Welborn, DVM and former AAHA president, says, "While raw food diets are becoming increasingly popular among pet owners, there is a growing body of information showing that these diets pose a health risk not only for the pets that consume them but to their owners as well."

Three researchers from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine studied the case of two cats who developed a Salmonella infection after eating a raw meat-based diet. They suffered gastrointestinal upset with loss of weight and appetite. Both cats died. Salmonella in tissue cultures from one of the cats was identified as the same Salmonella found in the raw meat used in the cat's homemade diet.

The JAAHA study also showed documented cases of human Salmonella infection resulting from direct and indirect contact with infected pets, though most were due to contact with contaminated food. Salmonella infection can be acquired from pets through grooming, food preparation, scooping, cleaning bowls and litter boxes, or just petting. In pets and humans, the very young and the very old, as well as those with suppressed immune systems, are most at risk.

The study strongly suggests that pets fed a raw diet contaminated with Salmonella can develop salmonellosis and pass it on to their handlers. Documentation of Salmonella recovered from the feces of greyhounds and sled dogs eating Salmonella-contaminated meat indicates risk of human infection from contact with infected dogs.

Talk with your veterinarian about a nutritionally balanced diet that is appropriate for your dog. He will make recommendations based on scientific nutritional information that will help your dog live a long and happy life.

Source: Adapted from the American Animal Hospital Association

Tags Dog Food & Dog Nutrition

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	I cannot believe the ignorance of people today! Please don't feed your dog raw!! God created dogs to eat cooked well balanced meals! Even wild dogs, coyotes and wolves eat cooked processed foods, in fact, I,ve seen many wild dogs, and coyotes pulling fresh carrots and picking peas for their young so they can have the same style food their domesticated counterparts have! Be a good responsible dog owner and place your bbq pit OUTSIDE your yard so that the wild dogs can cook their kill too after all...we wouldn't want wild dogs getting salmonella poisoning right??? 6 months ago by Tawakoni
	Has anyone stop to think who funded this so called research? Pet food companies. And just like human doctors get kickbacks from medication so do vets from pet food so of course they are going to push pet food on unsuspecting people. not to mention if everyone feed raw there would be less need for vets and they would be out of a job. This article is utter crap. The only thing we have domesticated in dogs is their looks. What they can eat is exactly the same as wild dogs and wolves. My old dog became like a puppy again after a switch to an all raw meat diet. She ate lots of chicken (even some that had just turned) and we never had a problem with food poisoning. Any one who believes this crap deserves to get food poisoning. 6 months ago by Anonymous
	As someone who has 10 years experience as an RVT in an emergencyy/referral practice, I would like to put in my 2 cents. I have watched MANY beloved pets(both cats and dogs)die of Salmonella poisoning, and seen many cases of bone/organ disorders due to calcium/phosphorous imbalance. There are also many risks posed to human family members. I would never feed my dog raw chicken and feel comforatble having him near my 2 year old! (Both ends of him would then be contaminated). While I know many people don't want to feed processed kibble or canned food to their pets, that's totally fine! Just research what a balanced diet means for your canine or feline friend, and for the love of god, cook it and take the bones out! Please keep in mind that the two leading causes of death in wild canines are intestinal/esophageal obstruction (from bones)and malnutrition - for those who are trying to get "back to nature". We domesticated 'em, it's our responsibility to keep them healthy. 7 months ago by Cindy
	I used to be a huge proponent of raw diet. I was so excited to get a 14 week old puppy and start her on raw. However, not long after I did, she began to show signs of illness - vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy. Scared I could be dealing with a serious illness (Parvo, anyone?) I took her to the vet who diagnosed her with upset stomach, likely due to food poisoning. She recommended I take her off raw immediately and switch to a balanced, holistic/natural commercial pet food like Innova, Orijen, or Wellness brand. She was prescribed an antibiotic and bland diet for transition, and is feeling much better... Unfortunately, this trip to the vet cost me a lot of money and not to mention a lot of worry - an expense that could have been easily avoided on all accounts had I not chosen to feed our dog raw. (It was fresh chicken leg quarter, it was fit for human consumption - I have done my research on the raw diet.) The vet herself does not recommend raw simply because of the number of incidents she sees like mine. So, while some may say it's so great, and while I'd like to believe that's true for all, it's certainly not - there are considerable risks involved. I almost lost my puppy. Please do not listen to the "research" that claims dogs cannot be affected by salmonella and other food-borne pathogens - they certainly can. Mine did! 7 months ago by Emily

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