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In a two-year study spanning from October 2010 through July 2012, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) screened over 1,000 samples of pet food for bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses.1 (The illnesses are called “foodborne” because the bacteria are carried, or “borne,” in or on contaminated food.) The study showed that, compared to other types of pet food tested, raw pet food was more likely to be contaminated with disease-causing bacteria.
Raw pet food was not included in the first year of the study. In the second year, CVM expanded the study to include 196 samples of commercially available raw dog and cat food. The center bought a variety of raw pet food online from different manufacturers and had the products shipped directly to six participating laboratories.2 The raw pet food products were usually frozen in tube-like packages and made from ground meat or sausage.
The participating laboratories analyzed the raw pet food for harmful bacteria, including Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. In past projects, CVM had monitored dog and cat food for the presence of Salmonella. But before this study, the center “had not investigated the occurrence of Listeria in pet food,” said Renate Reimschuessel, a veterinarian at CVM’s Office of Research and one of the study’s principal investigators. Dr. Reimschuessel further noted that “quite a large percentage of the raw foods for pets we tested were positive for the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.” (Pathogens are disease-causing germs, like some bacteria. Not all bacteria are harmful pathogens, though. Some bacteria are helpful to people and animals, such as those that live in the intestines and contribute to a healthy gut.)
Of the 196 raw pet food samples analyzed, 15 were positive for Salmonella and 32 were positive for L. monocytogenes (see Table 1).
| Type of Pet Food Sample | No. samples tested | No. positive for Salmonella | No. positive for L. monocytogenes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw pet food | 196 | 15 | 32 |
| Dry exotic pet food* | 190 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerky-type treats† | 190 | 0 | 0 |
| Semi-moist dog food‡ | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Semi-moist cat food‡ | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry dog food§ | 120 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry cat food§ | 120 | 1 | 0 |
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* Non-cat and non-dog food, such as dry pellets for hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, amphibians, and birds. † Included chicken jerky product, pig ears, and bully stick-type products. ‡ Typically packaged in pouches for retail sale, such as (1) pouched dog and cat food; and (2) food treats shaped like bacon, fish, pork chops, and burgers. § Included pellet- or kibble-type food typically packaged in bags for retail sale. Note: Canned pet food samples were not tested in this study. |
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Based on the study’s results, CVM is concerned about the public health risk of raw pet food diets. As Dr. Reimschuessel explained, the study “identified a potential health risk for the pets eating the raw food, and for the owners handling the product.” Owners who feed their pet a raw diet may have a higher risk of getting infected with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
Raw Dog Food More Likely to Contain Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Researchers in Portugal analyzed 55 kinds of dog food from 25 different brands that are available internationally. Samples included 22 wet, 8 dry, 4 semi-wet, 14 raw-frozen, and 7 treats. The raw frozen food ingredients included duck, salmon, turkey, chicken, lamb, goose, beef, and vegetables.
Thirty samples (54 percent) contained enterococci, and more than 40 percent of the bacteria were resistant to eight commonly used antibiotics. Twenty-three percent of the enterococci found were resistant to linezolid, which is considered a last-resort antibiotic and used on severe infections when other drugs have failed, according to the authors.
All of the raw dog food samples contained the multidrug-resistant enterococci, including the enterococci found resistant to linezolid; only three of the non-raw food samples had multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Is it okay for me to feed my dog raw food? Is that better than feeding prepared dry or canned food?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stand united in their position (based on very robust data) that feeding raw food to dogs is potentially dangerous to both the dog and to you.
A study conducted from 2011 through 2012, screened commercially available raw dog foods for bacteria that can cause illness. The raw dog food products were made from ground meat or sausage and frozen in tube-like packages. Nearly 25% of the raw food samples tested positive for harmful bacteria, including Salmonella ssp. and Listeria monocytogenes. These bacteria can pose a health risk for the dogs who eat the raw food, as well as for the dog owners who handle the food while preparing it.
Will Raw Meat Make My Dog Sick
A raw food diet is just what it sounds like — you feed your dog only raw products like uncooked meat, bones, and certain vegetables.
Proponents of the raw food diet say it has important health benefits for dogs, but the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) discourages giving dogs raw animal products.
Heres what you need to know about the raw food diet for dogs and why it may not be your best option.