Raw Pet Food Diets

Often clients ask about raw food diets and assume that they are a better choice for pets.  However, it is important to realize that raw diets often contain large quantities of bacteria and may be contaminated with salmonella, listeria, parasites, and protozoa.  This can be health hazard for your pet and for you when handling the diet.  Another large concern with these diets is nutritional adequacy as they may or may not be nutritionally balanced.

Check out the FDA's website below for a very good explanation of some of the concerns when using raw food diets, especially the concerns of salmonella and listeria contamination.


References

Chandler ML, Takashima G. 2014. Nutritional concepts for the veterinary practitioner. In Vet Clin Small Anim 44 p 645-666.

Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets can be Dangerous to You and Your Pet

<http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/animalhealthliteracy/ucm373757.htm>