New research has found that raw meat dog food contains “unexpectedly high” levels of bacteria, including bacteria-resistant variants. antibiotics. Experts warn that the problem is an international risk to public health.
The researchers tested the presence of Enterococci in dog food from supermarkets and pet stores. The dog food samples were all from Portugal, but most of the brands reviewed ship worldwide.
Enterococci are usually present in the intestine, but if they spread to other areas of the body they can lead to serious infections, including oral, abdominal, urinary infections.
Research in detail
The researchers studied 55 dog food samples from 25 brands. The samples included 22 wet varieties, 14 frozen with raw meat, eight dried, seven treats, and four semi-moist varieties.
More than half (54%) of the samples contained Enterococci. Furthermore, more than 40% of the bacteria were resistant to the following antibiotics: erythromycin, tetracycline, quinupristin-dalfopristin, streptomycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin or ciprofloxacin.
All raw meat dog food samples, in summary, contained multidrug-resistant Enterococci, and potentially capable of spreading among humans.
Raw meat in dog food: public health risk
The doctor Ana R. Freitas, researcher in the study, he says it bluntly: “The close contact of humans with dogs and the marketing of the brands studied in different countries are an international risk to public health.
European authorities need to raise awareness of potential health risks when feeding raw meat foods to pets. The production of dog food, including the selection of ingredients and hygiene practices, must be completely revised. Dog owners should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling and feeding pets.
Ana R. Freitas
Dog food without raw meat
Concerns about food safety could increase an already growing trend: that of the launch of many raw meat-free dog food brands. V-Dog. a company that sells vegan products for animals, sounds the charge by waving data from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Its database of pet food recalls shows that 2018 raw meat products were recalled for contamination in February 38 alone.
Wild earth, another company that produces vegan kibble for dogs with Koji-based cultured proteins highlights another factor. Raw meat dog food is at risk of containing drugs used to euthanize slaughtered livestock.
The CEO and co-founder of Wild Earth told the Wall Street Journal that most major dog food brands have meat scraps from “4D” animals (dead, dying, sick or disabled) so it could really be anything in it. What.
