What’s so bad about enteric bacteria?

Enteric bacteria are bacteria that live in the guts of animals including man. Some enteric bacteria are great.  E-coli is an example of an enteric bacteria that all of us have living in our intestines. Without a healthy flora of E-coli, we would not be able to extract all the nutrients available in the foods we eat.  But other enteric bacteria can be harmful, if not deadly.  These bacteria include Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, and  ‘bad’ strains of E-coli.  Raw meat, raw milk, and fresh produce are the three top sources of potential infection by enteric bacteria.

How bad is the risk of feeding a raw meat diet to my dog or cat?

On a scale from one to ten?  A seven.  A study published in October 2019 in the journal Royal Society Open Science, found that of 51 raw meat-based diets commercially produced for dog and cats, 72.5% did not meet EU pet food standards for contamination by enteric bacteria.  Salmonella was found in nearly 4% of the samples, but most alarming was that 63% of the enteric bacteria found in the samples were antibiotic resistant.  So, you see, it’s not just the risk of infection itself; it’s the significance of that infection.  Do you really want to bring a product into your house that could contain harmful bacteria; that risks getting on you or your children when you kiss your pet or touch his or her food; that could be potentially antibiotic resistant; and which typically targets young children, the elderly and the immune compromised?  It’s just not worth the risk.

Are there proven benefits of a raw meat diet?

No, it’s all hearsay. There have been no studies that prove that raw diets benefit pets.  In fact, there’s more evidence to the contrary.  In a paper available to read through the National Institute of Health’s NCBI website:

• At least one cat developed hypervitaminosis from eating a raw diet, but was restored to health after the cat was returned to a traditional, commercial diet.
• Pansteatitis, or yellow fat disease, in 10 cats was directly linked to a raw food diet.
• Osteodystrophy, or defective bone development, in two litters of large breed puppies was linked to a raw food diet.
• Hyperparathyroidism, or overactive thyroid, in a litter of German Shepherd puppies was linked to their diet of raw meat and rice.

The same paper cited that, “A nutritional analysis of 5 raw food diets (2 commercially produced and 3 home-made) found low calcium and phosphorus in 3 of the 5 diets. Two commercial diets were high in vitamin D. Two of the diets were deficient in potassium, magnesium, and zinc.”

When I hear a story about cats becoming infected with a form of tuberculosis commonly found in cows, my mind immediately goes to the COVID-19 pandemic where a corona virus is suspected from jumping from bats to humans. Can parallels be drawn between the two kinds of cases?

Viruses and bacteria jump from species to species quite frequently.  Heartworm disease, commonly an issue with dogs, can also be contracted by cats (and even people), but because neither are typically the host, the symptoms of the disease are usually not so pronounced (though we know today that infection by Heartworm in cats can have lifelong and sometimes fatal outcomes and is one of the reasons we recommend that all cat owners give their cat a monthly preventative like Revolution). The Spanish Flu of 1918 was caused when a bird virus jumped from avians to humans; the AIDS epidemic roared through our culture and persists today after the simian version of HIV crossed species lines into humans; and Toxoplasma typically infectious in cats, can sometimes spill over into people when pet owners come in contact with cat urine or feces as they change their pet’s litter pans. So yes, parallels can most certainly be drawn.  Viruses and bacteria have the ability to mutate and to exchange genetic information that can sometimes increase the organism’s pathogenicity. As our world becomes more crowded, as we come in closer contact with wildlife and other humans of the world, we increase the amount of contact time with potentially pathogenic organisms and risk being blind sighted by outbreaks or even novel disease.

Is it true that raw diets are better for pets because the cooking process of commercial foods destroys valuable enzymes found in raw meat?

No.  There was one study that attempted to prove that, “digestive enzymes found in fresh food enhance bioavailability; that heating destroys these enzymes; and therefore cooked foods are inferior to raw foods”, but the paper concluded that there was no link between the availability of these enzymes and a decrease in disease and that there was insufficient knowledge in the area of enzyme synergy to determine any other merits of a raw food diet.

But commercial foods contain byproduct and byproducts are bad for pets, no?

No.  It’s a myth that animal byproducts are bad for pets.  U.S. animal byproducts are well regulated.  Yes, there has been the occasional recall of pet food on which we have reported in the past, but by-in-large, qualitative pet food manufactures do a very good job at producing safe, palatable, nutritionally balanced, affordable pet foods.

What is the safest pet food on the market?

I recommend Transparent Nutrition from  Veterinary Recommended Solutions. This company’s foods are formulated by veterinary nutritionists who ensure that the diets meet the standards for micro and macro nutrients by the National Research Council (NRC).  Additionally, they test each lot of food before it leaves the production facility and a third party tests for organic and inorganic contaminants, toxins, bacterial pathogens and confirms that the vitamin D levels are in the appropriate range. Lastly, the ingredients in these foods usually meet the standards of the most discerning pet owner; just read the labels. We sell the food at our office. You can even come in a get a free sample.

No matter how much you talk to me, you’re not going to convince me that store bought is better than home cooked.

Fine, but I’m assuming my concerns still resonate with you, yes?  If you’re going to cook for your pet, you have to ensure that the food you’re making is balanced. If you’re going to feed your pet raw food, environmental and personal hygiene are very important. Here are some tips to ensure safety with homemade or store bought raw diets.

• Keep raw meats consistently cooled at 40 degrees F or below.
• If you are going to serve whole cuts of meat, sear the outside to kill harmful bacteria that can travel from the source of contamination to your home on the surface of the meat.
• Cuts of raw meat are better than finely chopped or ground meat products where any contaminates usually end up getting mixed throughout the product. In contrast, only the outside surfaces of cut meat products come into contact with contaminates. 
• Wash all surfaces thoroughly with soap and water after preparing your pet’s food.
• Do not leave raw diets out to warm to room temperature.  If your pet does not eat all of his or her meal, throw out the remaining portion, and feed a smaller amount at the next meal.
• Wash the floor around the area where your pet eats with soap and water after each meal.
• Be vigilant with children, the elderly, and the immune compromised who are most at risk of disease if exposed to pathogens found in raw meat.
• Wash your pet’s food bowl throughly with soap and water after each meal.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling raw meat.
• Have your pet’s blood tested annually at Animal Medical so that we can ensure that your pet is getting all the nutrition he or she needs.

Conclusion

We believe that feeding your pet a raw food diet is unwise for the following reasons:

• There is no science to support the benefits of raw diets over quality commercially-available pet foods.
• Raw diets may not be nutritionally balanced.
• There is a significant risk that raw diets will be infected by antibiotic resistant, enteric bacteria that can cause disease in pets and people.
• Raw diets are usually more expensive than quality commercial brands.

You want to feed a raw diet to your dog or cat because you’re interested in doing everything you can to keep your pet healthy and living long. My veterinary team and I would like to partner with you and your pet on that journey.  As part of your pet’s initial comprehensive exam, we’ll talk specifically about your pet’s nutritional needs and we’ll recommend the best food and how much to feed.  Animal Medical of New City has been serving the pet owners of Rockland County for the past 35 years.  After treating thousands of pets, we’re experienced and knowledgeable enough to be a resource for all of your pet’s healthcare needs.

Dr. Lisa Schenkel