Millions of pet owners may not realize they are putting their dogs, cats, and even family members at risk for serious infections.
Approximately 15 to 25 percent of dog owners and about 10 percent of cat owners, which amounts to nearly 10 million people in the U.S., feed their pets raw diets, drawn in by supposed health benefits. This can include raw meat and eggs, but veterinarians caution against these diets.
Veterinarians highlight the risks tied to raw food diets, particularly infections like salmonellosis from Salmonella bacteria. This can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain in dogs.
A 2002 study indicated that around 80 percent of raw food samples found in dogs’ bowls and 30 percent of their stool samples tested positive for Salmonella.
Pet owners themselves can also be affected; handling or preparing their pets’ food without proper handwashing can lead to infections. The bacteria can spread throughout their homes.
Dogs and cats on raw diets can shed harmful bacteria in their feces, which can remain infectious for days, even after the pet stops having diarrhea. This lingering presence may pose risks to all household members, particularly those with weakened immune systems.
Jennifer Larsen, a veterinary nutritionist at the University of California Davis, stated that while some pet owners may feel their animals are thriving on raw diets, such anecdotes are not strong scientific evidence of benefit.
Antonio Varcasia, from Italy’s University of Sassari, emphasizes the potential risks for both pets and their owners.
Many pet owners have anthropomorphized their dogs and cats, believing they should consume diets akin to those of their wild ancestors. Yet, today’s domesticated animals differ from their wild relatives.
For example, dogs do not process starch like wolves do, and house cats have distinct nutritional needs that differ from larger cats, requiring higher protein and specific minerals.
Despite warnings, pet owners continue to gravitate toward popular raw food brands.
In addition to Salmonella, pathogens like E. coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter found in raw foods can provoke illnesses in both pets and humans.
Salmonella can cause severe gastrointestinal distress, with symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. If complications arise, the infection may spread beyond the intestines, requiring immediate care.
E. coli similarly results in severe cramps and diarrhea, with possible damage to blood vessels leading to more severe health issues.
Listeria is particularly harmful to pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, potentially resulting in severe complications even in healthy adults.
Campylobacter is a prevalent cause of bacterial diarrhea worldwide, leading to intense abdominal pain and diarrhea, which may be severe enough to mimic appendicitis. A rare complication linked to it can cause paralysis.
Aimee Simpson, the medical director at VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia, pointed out that even commercially prepared raw food, whether frozen, freeze-dried, or dehydrated, may not be effective in eliminating harmful bacteria.
Pet cats have suffered illnesses or fatalities due to raw food or unpasteurized milk tainted with bird flu.
Reports from Los Angeles revealed the deaths of two house cats from a raw food diet tainted with the virus.
Health officials in Oregon confirmed at least one cat death caused by bird flu, and earlier this month, the FDA issued warnings after a sick cat in San Francisco tested positive for H5N1 linked to a raw cat food product.
Cat owners offering raw diets should be vigilant for signs such as lethargy or respiratory issues in their pets.
Feeding dogs raw or lightly cooked salmon or trout can also expose them to Salmon Poisoning Disease, a life-threatening condition caused by a specific bacterium.
This bacterium lives within a parasitic fluke found in fish from the Pacific Northwest, which are often shipped nationwide.
Consumption of infected fish can lead to rapid-onset symptoms like fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, and without swift veterinary intervention, it can be fatal.
