| There is no question that feeding pets raw foods is a | | | | to conform to specific rules of hygiene. |
| new trend among breeders and pet owners and that | | | | Here are some recommendations from the FDA |
| the benefits of raw foods outweigh the problems. | | | | about raw pet food: |
| Raw food has the vitamins and enzymes needed by | | | | - Use the freshest and healthiest meat you can buy. |
| the animals to sustain life and stay healthy. Yet many | | | | Free of additives and hormones. |
| veterinarians are still opposed to raw feeding because | | | | - Thaw the meat in the refrigerator and not on top |
| of the threat of diseases like Salmonella. Proponents | | | | of your kitchen counter |
| of the BARF* diet claim that this is not the case. | | | | - Refrigerate leftover meat immediately after using |
| While it's true that the salmonella virus can be harmful | | | | - Wash utensils, dishes and counter tops thoroughly |
| to humans, naturopathic veterinarians do not see | | | | after handling raw meat |
| cases of food poisoning in pets due to salmonella. | | | | If you are too busy to make and prepare raw foods |
| The reason for that is that because cats and dogs | | | | for your pets but try adding raw eggs to dry foods, |
| are natural carnivores, they have a short digestive | | | | or adding raw fresh fish or ground meat to canned |
| track as well as stronger stomach acids and are | | | | pet food. In addition, several manufacturers are |
| predisposed to eliminate this type of bacteria from | | | | offering frozen raw food packages that are easily |
| their bodies. The biggest problem of the BARF diet is | | | | stored in the freezer that can be purchased at |
| the threat to humans. This is why food handling has | | | | specialty stores and online. |