| Despite the best efforts of public health agencies, | | | | product. |
| some dog ownerscontinue to believe that raw meats | | | | Salmonellosis is an infection with Salmonella bacteria. |
| are safe and beneficial for theirdogs. | | | | Symptoms of salmonellosisare nausea, vomiting, |
| Many people even believe the old wives tale that | | | | abdominal pain and diarrhea. The illness usuallylasts 4 |
| cooked foods are moredifficult to digest than raw | | | | to 7 days, and most people recover without |
| food. It’s true there is some structuralchange | | | | treatment. |
| from the cooking process, but it works just as much | | | | In some people, however, the diarrhea may be so |
| in favor ofdigestibility, for example, by partially | | | | severe that hospitalizationis required. Young children, |
| breaking down the protein structure. | | | | the elderly and people with weakened immune |
| As to feeding your dog raw meats which consist | | | | systems are more likely to have a severe illness. |
| mainly of beef, chickenand lamb, your dog can get | | | | Studies completed by the Public Health Agency of |
| Salmonella or E. coli. and other food poisoningjust as | | | | Canada have confirmed thatsome of these products |
| you can. | | | | may be contaminated and have shown that dogs fed |
| In June of this year, major manufacturer of dog | | | | theseproducts can shed Salmonella bacteria in their |
| food treats, | | | | stool for days. A recent studyfrom the United States |
| T.W. Enterprises Inc. of Ferndale, WA. and Aron Pet | | | | also supports these findings. |
| Food of Abbotsford, | | | | See the news article and warning from the Canadian |
| British Columbia, Canada, recalled a number of | | | | government at |
| products due to Salmonellacontamination. | | | | [ |
| There have recently been three human illnesses | | | | You’ll hear many people, especially on the |
| caused by Salmonellabacteria in Canada linked to | | | | Internet, singing the praisesof raw food diets. Ask |
| natural pet treats. This is one of severalincidents | | | | them for their educational credentials or for |
| where natural pet treats have been linked to | | | | scientificevidence. Expect a stunned silence. |
| salmonellosis inhumans over the past six years, | | | | Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and |
| including previous Salmonella outbreaksin 1999 and | | | | the Public Health of Canadaare warning consumers |
| 2002. | | | | about using and serving raw meat products to their |
| In response, the Public Health Agency of Canada | | | | pets. |
| advised people who givetheir pets natural pet treats | | | | Here’s what the FDA says: "The FDA believes |
| and/or raw food made from raw animal materialsto | | | | that feeding raw meat diets to petsis not consistent |
| wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and | | | | with its goal of protecting the public from significant |
| soap after handling theseproducts. | | | | healthrisks," says William Burkholder, D.V.M., Ph.D., the |
| Natural pet treats include various dried or smoked | | | | Food and Drug Administration'spet food specialist. In |
| products with animal orseafood contents. Animal | | | | addition, he says, raw meat and bones do not have |
| treats include ears, hooves and hearts from a | | | | all therequired nutrients that a pet, for example, a |
| numberof species. Products may be sold | | | | dog, needs on a daily basis. |
| prepackaged or in bulk. Some of these productsmay | | | | Read the article at [ |
| be a source of Salmonella bacteria that may increase | | | | Doesn’t it make more sense to listen to |
| the risk of Salmonellainfection in humans. | | | | people who’ve actually know what |
| In comparison to products like raw chicken meat, | | | | they’redoing as compared with a stranger on |
| commercial dog foods arerelatively safe because | | | | the Internet? |
| they are cooked at high temperatures from eight to | | | | Avoid raw food diets for your pets! |
| 24 hours -- a process that kills any bacteria on the | | | | |