Millions of pet owners could be unknowingly putting their dogs and cats, as well as their family members, at risk of potentially severe infections.
Between 15 and 25 percent of dog owners and 10 percent of cat owners, about 10 million Americans, feed their pets a raw food diet because of the supposed health benefits. These include raw eggs and meat; but vets advise against them.
Veterinarians warn that raw diets carry risks of infections associated with consuming raw food, including salmonellosis caused by the Salmonella bacteria, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and abdominal pain in dogs.
According to a report from 2002, 80 percent of samples of the raw food in dogs’ bowls and 30 percent of their stool samples contained Salmonella.
And pet owners are not spared. They can become infected when they handle or prepare their dog’s or cat’s food and fail to wash their hands and utensils thoroughly, and bacteria can spread to surfaces all over the house.
Pets on raw food diets can also shed bacteria in their feces that can cause human disease, shedding that can last for days after exposure, even if the pet doesn’t have diarrhea. Those bacteria can persist for days to weeks in the home.
This exposes every family member, and is especially dangerous for immunocompromised residents.
Veterinarians warn that raw diets carry a risk of salmonellosis, an infection from Salmonella bacteria that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever and lethargy in dogs (stock)
Jennifer Larsen, a veterinary nutritionist at the University of California Davis, told National Geographic: ‘There are some surveys of owners who feel that their pet is healthy and doing well, but this is not scientific evidence of benefit.’
Antonio Varcasia, a scientist at Italy’s University of Sassari, who studies parasite transmission in animals, added: ‘What is very evident are the possible disadvantages and risks, for the pet and the owner.’
Millions of pet owners have humanized their dogs and cats and come to believe that they should be fed diets similar to those of their wild ancestors.
But the domesticated dogs and cats of today are not the wolves and pumas of the wild.
Dogs do not process starch in the same way that wolves can.
House cats have different nutritional requirements than their larger counterparts, which require higher protein, other essential minerals, and a lower fat content.
Still, pet owners are increasingly reaching for popular raw food brands, such as We Feed Raw, Open Farm and Viva Raw.
In addition to Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria and Campylobacter, other pathogens in raw foods can lead to illness in animals and humans.
Pet parents can become infected when they handle or prepare their dog’s or cat’s food and fail to wash their hands and utensils thoroughly. Pets on raw food diets can also shed bacteria in their feces that can cause human disease. Those bacteria can persist for days to weeks in the home (stock)
Salmonella causes severe gastrointestinal issues, including bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and fever. The bacteria invade the intestinal lining, triggering an inflammatory response. In severe cases, the infection can spread to the bloodstream or cause fatal dehydration.
E. coli also causes severe stomach cramps and bloody diarrhea. Its primary danger comes from Shiga toxins, which damage blood vessels and can lead to kidney failure.
Listeria poses the greatest threat to pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and the immunocompromised. While it may only cause mild flu-like symptoms in healthy adults, it can lead to meningitis, bloodstream infections, miscarriage or stillbirth in vulnerable groups.
Campylobacter is a leading global cause of bacterial diarrhea. It invades the small intestine, causing intense inflammation that results in severe, often bloody, diarrhea and abdominal pain so acute it can mimic appendicitis. A rare but serious complication is Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that can cause paralysis.
Aimee Simpson, the medical director at VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia, also told NatGeo: ‘Some commercial raw food is frozen, freeze-fried, or dehydrated, which may give people a false sense of security about its safety.
‘It’s important to note that these methods are not reliable or effective ways to kill bacteria or viruses like avian influenza.’
Pet cats have become ill or died from consuming raw pet food and unpasteurized milk contaminated with bird flu.
The Los Angeles Department of Public Health announced the death of two house cats who were fed a raw food diet that was contaminated with bird flu, a catastrophic infection for cats.
In addition to Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria and Campylobacter, other pathogens in raw foods can lead to illness in animals and humans such as bird flu (stock)
Oregon health officials also reported one cat dead due to bird flu.
Earlier this month, the FDA warned pet owners after tests found a link between H5N1 samples in a sick cat in San Francisco and a brand of raw cat food that contained chicken.
Cat owners who feed a raw-food diet should watch out for signs of lethargy, a runny nose or discharge around the eyes, as well as seizures in their pets.
Feeding dogs raw or improperly cooked salmon or trout can lead to Salmon Poisoning Disease (SPD), a dangerous condition caused by the bacterium Neorickettsia helminthoeca.
The bacteria reside inside a parasitic fluke, which infects fish in the Pacific Northwest.
While the disease originates there, it has a wider reach as these fish are shipped across the country and used to stock lakes.
After a dog eats an infected fish, the fluke attaches to the dog’s intestine and transmits the bacteria, leading to rapid-onset symptoms like fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Without prompt veterinary treatment, the infection is often fatal.
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