26/11/2020
Furparents!!! If you plan or feed your pets Raw diets. Pls read this!
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๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ญ-๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ
Paul A. Cardenio, DVM, MSc
Pet owners (or Furparents as they call themselves) are easily influenced by other โpet loversโ on how they feed and care for their dogs and cats. One of the practices that we commonly hear from pet owners is raw feeding. These owners prepare their petโs meal using fresh uncooked ingredients like meat, offals, and bones as an alternative to commercial dry or canned pet food. They are claiming that this โnaturalโ feeding has health benefits which include, but not limited to, muscle mass gain, better digestion, cleaner teeth, shinier coat and skin, and increase in vitality and performance [1,2].
You might have also heard of some veterinarians, local or abroad, who promote raw meat feeding. That is not surprising since pet food industry is also based on consumer demand and there are โpro-rawโ movements here and abroad [3]. However, is this practice really beneficial and safe to our companion animals? Are there any health risks for us, veterinarians and pet owners?
Currently, there are no peer-reviewed articles that showed significant medical benefits from feeding raw meat-based diets. The benefits are only based on the perception and testimonials of pet owners. In contrary, there are current scientific evidences suggesting that raw meat feeding may actually harm your pets, aside from the fact that it may potentially pose health risks to the owners, veterinarians and the public.
It was reported that there was a significant difference in excretion of zoonotic and resistant bacteria in f***s between dogs fed with raw meats and dogs fed with dry kibble. Hence, proving that this practice can pose a microbiological risk not only for dogs, but also for people handling raw meat-based diets and f***s from dogs [4]. In a recent study published this month, it was reported that dogs fed with raw meat diets were almost 30 times more likely to be positive for Salmonella spp. (including multiresistant strains and serovars previously described in humans as causative organisms for infections) and Clostridium perfringens than dogs on a conventional diet [2].
Other bacterial pathogens that can be acquired from these raw meat products include E. coli, Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogens, Yersinia enterolitica, Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus cereus [5]. These bacteria when passed on to human (pet owners, veterinary staffs and other people) can cause foodborne illnesses such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever and abdominal cramps which can be fatal to some especially if multi-drug resistant strains are acquired [6]. Because of the microbiological hazard that it poses to human, some veterinary clinics/hospitals abroad do not allow the feeding of raw meat-based diets [7].
Mineral and vitamin deficiencies and imbalances were also reported. Some have low calcium intake while others have more than 300% of the recommended allowance for calcium. In addition, lower intake of zinc, copper, vitamin A and vitamin D were observed in the studied dogs [8]. To provide balance nutrient and energy requirement, owners can provide commercial vitamins and mineral preparations and commercial dog foods that are formulated to meet the recommended nutrient and energy allowance for dogs and cats.
Feeding raw bones (or even cooked bones) can result also to obstipation, cracked/broken teeth, and gastrointestinal obstruction. Though, it was reported to be an effective method of removing dental calculus in Beagle dogs with no complications, the small sample size (8 dogs) cannot be used to generalize the safety of this practice [9]. There is a high probability that bone fragments can stuck and obstruct in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract which may result to surgery and death. We can totally avoid this scenario if we do not allow them to eat bones, raw or cooked [10].
In our practice, some dogs fed with raw meat-based diets show signs of allergic dermatitis. Though there are no current evidence on the correlation of raw meat feeding with canine food allergy, these patients improve after changing the diet to formulated hypoallergenic dog foods or after conducting food elimination trial
In summary, raw meat-based diets pose health risks not only to your dogs and cats, but also to you (the owner), us (veterinary staff), other people and animals. Dogs and cats have already evolved. They are no longer the predators that we read in our history and evolutionary biology books. They are already domesticated and have been with us since human learned to use them for hunting and for domesticating livestock. Current evidences prove that they are healthier if they are vaccinated, trained and exercised regularly, housed in clean and safe environment, given vitamins and minerals, fed with healthy, well-balanced cooked meals or commercially prepared diets.
References:
1. Morelli G. et al. 2019. Raw meat-based diets for dogs: survey of ownersโ motivations, attitudes and practices. BMC Veterinary Research 15: 74 doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1824-x
2. Viegas FM et al. 2020. F***l shedding of Salmonella spp., Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridioides difficile in dogs fed raw meat-based diets in Brazil and their ownersโ motivation. PLOS ONE, 15(4): e0231275. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0231275
3. Waters A. 2017. Raw diets: are we at a turning point? Veterinary Record 181(15): 384.2โ384. doi:10.1136/vr.j4709
4. Runesvรคrd E et al. 2020. Presence of pathogenic bacteria in faeces from dogs fed raw meat-based diets or dry kibble. Veterinary Record. doi: 10.1136/vr.105644
5. Davies RH et al. 2019. Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards. Journal of Small Animal Practice 60: 329-339. doi:10.1111/jsap.13000
6. Bintsis T. 2017. Foodborne pathogens. AIMS microbiology 3(3): 529โ563. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2017.3.529
7.https://vet.tufts.edu/wp-content/uploads/raw_meat_diets_memo.pdf
8. Dillitzer N et al. 2011. Intake of minerals, trace elements and vitamins in bone and raw food rations in adult dogs. British Journal of Nutrition 106(S1): S53โS56
9. Marx F et al. 2016. Raw beef bones as chewing items to reduce dental calculus in Beagle dogs. Australian Veterinary Journal 94(1-2): 18 23. doi:10.1111/avj.12394
10. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/no-bones-or-bone-treats-about-it-reasons-not-give-your-dog-bones
