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pstinard · 04-12-2017, 07:58 AM

A little more information from one of the cited scientific studies (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4152787/) :

"In recent years, various groups have advocated feeding raw food diets to companion animals. This practice poses health risks to both animals and owners. A limited study, completed in Canada, showed that dogs fed a BARF (bones and raw food) diet were more likely to shed Salmonella in their stool than dogs fed commercial diets (Joffe and Schlesinger, 2002). There is an increasing trend of feeding raw meat diets in the United States, and these raw diets pose a risk to pet owners due to an increased risk of bacterial contamination from handling these products (Freeman and Michel, 2001). The results from our investigation show that these raw pet food products can contain pathogenic bacteria. In 2011, a study in California evaluated raw horsemeat diets in zoo settings and screened for Salmonella and E. coli, but not Listeria (Singleton et al., 2012). This study found one sample positive for Salmonella out of 54 samples that were screened using a sandwich ELISA test. The data show fewer positives than previous studies from zoos, which reported up to 60% positive findings for raw diets (Richter and al-Sheddy, 1990; Singleton et al., 2012). The Singleton study tested a small number of samples (54) and did not use standard microbial culture methods, which may have resulted in underreporting of positives from the raw meat diet. Our study used standard culture methods, tested more samples, and screened for a wider range of bacteria, including Listeria. We found that the raw pet food products could be contaminated with either Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, or both pathogens."

This is why most vets don't recommend raw diets, and why the dangers of raw diets are taught in vet med schools. Not to say it can't be done, but the dangers are real.

04-12-2017, 07:58 AM	#10
pstinard YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Urbana, IL USA Posts: 3,648	A little more information from one of the cited scientific studies (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4152787/) : "In recent years, various groups have advocated feeding raw food diets to companion animals. This practice poses health risks to both animals and owners. A limited study, completed in Canada, showed that dogs fed a BARF (bones and raw food) diet were more likely to shed Salmonella in their stool than dogs fed commercial diets (Joffe and Schlesinger, 2002). There is an increasing trend of feeding raw meat diets in the United States, and these raw diets pose a risk to pet owners due to an increased risk of bacterial contamination from handling these products (Freeman and Michel, 2001). The results from our investigation show that these raw pet food products can contain pathogenic bacteria. In 2011, a study in California evaluated raw horsemeat diets in zoo settings and screened for Salmonella and E. coli, but not Listeria (Singleton et al., 2012). This study found one sample positive for Salmonella out of 54 samples that were screened using a sandwich ELISA test. The data show fewer positives than previous studies from zoos, which reported up to 60% positive findings for raw diets (Richter and al-Sheddy, 1990; Singleton et al., 2012). The Singleton study tested a small number of samples (54) and did not use standard microbial culture methods, which may have resulted in underreporting of positives from the raw meat diet. Our study used standard culture methods, tested more samples, and screened for a wider range of bacteria, including Listeria. We found that the raw pet food products could be contaminated with either Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, or both pathogens." This is why most vets don't recommend raw diets, and why the dangers of raw diets are taught in vet med schools. Not to say it can't be done, but the dangers are real.