[PrincessDiana]

Sweet Apple, to answer your question, raw meat products always have a certain amount of salmonella, e.coli, and other bacteria, which is why meat must be thoroughly cooked before WE eat it. Dogs however, have a much different digestive system that prevents them from getting sick for these bacteria. They have a shorter digestive tract which doesn't give time for bacteria to colonize in their bodies. They also have lysozymes in their saliva which kill bacteria as well. However, salmonella is also present in kibble so it really is everywhere.

To be honest, it's not that important to be super careful with raw meat. I wash my hands and the dog bowls with warm, soapy water after feeding, and wipe down counters with vinegar and hydrogen peroxide after preparing it (we feed prey model). Occasionally I use bleach but I try not to because it's harmful to us, the dogs, and the environment. We've never had a problem with anybody getting sick. It's important to expose ourselves to SOME bacteria because otherwise our immune systems will weaken.