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BARF Health Risks
SOURCE: PRNewswire, 12/11/03
Study Finds Raw Food Diets Too Risky for Pets, Owners Popular Pet Diet May Pose Significant Health Risks for You and Your Pet Raw food diets are a growing trend among pet owners hoping to improve their pet's health. However, a study published in the November/December 2003 issue of the "Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association" found that these diets may cause a potentially fatal Salmonella infection. "While raw food diets are becoming increasingly popular among pet owners, there is a growing body of information showing that these diets pose a health risk not only for the pets that consume them but to their owners as well," says Link Welborn, DVM, AAHA president. Shane L. Stiver, DVM, Kendall S. Frazier, DVM, Michael J. Mauel, PhD, and Eloise L. Styer, PhD, from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a case study of two cats that developed salmonellosis (Salmonella infection) as a result of a raw meat-based diet. The salmonellosis caused gastrointestinal upset, weight loss and anorexia that resulted in the death of both cats. Salmonella in tissue cultures isolated from one of the cats was identical to cultures from the raw beef used in the cat's home-prepared diet, and the resulting infection was confirmed as the cause of death in both cases. The report is the first to describe the occurrence of salmonellosis in cats as a result of feeding a raw meat-based diet. The "JAAHA" study also found that while most human cases of salmonellosis result from direct exposure to contaminated food, there are documented cases of infection due to direct and indirect contact with infected pets. In cats and humans, the very young and very old, as well as those with an immune-compromised state, have the highest risk of infection. Since people often spend a great deal of time in close proximity to their pets, there are many opportunities for exposure to disease causing organisms, such as Salmonella, through petting, grooming, food preparation, water bowls and litter boxes. The study concluded that cats fed raw meat contaminated with Salmonella are at risk for development of salmonellosis and may pose a disease risk to their owners and handlers. Feeding of raw meat contaminated by Salmonella and recovery of Salmonella from the feces of sled dogs and greyhounds has been documented, suggesting a risk of human infection from contact with infected dogs as well as cats. Due to these risks, AAHA recommends that pet owners not feed their pets a raw-meat based diet and encourages owners to ask their veterinarian for advice regarding a nutritionally balanced diet that is appropriate for their pet's age and lifestyle. "A substantial body of science-based nutritional data has contributed to the longer life span that our companion animals currently enjoy," says Dr. Welborn. "Your veterinarian uses these resources to provide nutritional recommendations that will help your pet live a long and healthy life." The American Animal Hospital Association is an international organization of more than 29,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, the association is well known among veterinarians for its high standards for hospitals and pet health care. For pet care information or a referral to an AAHA hospital, pet owners can visit the AAHA website at www.healthypet.com .. |
#2
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Very interesting read....
Carrie "Steve Crane" wrote in message m... SOURCE: PRNewswire, 12/11/03 Study Finds Raw Food Diets Too Risky for Pets, Owners Popular Pet Diet May Pose Significant Health Risks for You and Your Pet Raw food diets are a growing trend among pet owners hoping to improve their pet's health. However, a study published in the November/December 2003 issue of the "Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association" found that these diets may cause a potentially fatal Salmonella infection. "While raw food diets are becoming increasingly popular among pet owners, there is a growing body of information showing that these diets pose a health risk not only for the pets that consume them but to their owners as well," says Link Welborn, DVM, AAHA president. Shane L. Stiver, DVM, Kendall S. Frazier, DVM, Michael J. Mauel, PhD, and Eloise L. Styer, PhD, from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a case study of two cats that developed salmonellosis (Salmonella infection) as a result of a raw meat-based diet. The salmonellosis caused gastrointestinal upset, weight loss and anorexia that resulted in the death of both cats. Salmonella in tissue cultures isolated from one of the cats was identical to cultures from the raw beef used in the cat's home-prepared diet, and the resulting infection was confirmed as the cause of death in both cases. The report is the first to describe the occurrence of salmonellosis in cats as a result of feeding a raw meat-based diet. The "JAAHA" study also found that while most human cases of salmonellosis result from direct exposure to contaminated food, there are documented cases of infection due to direct and indirect contact with infected pets. In cats and humans, the very young and very old, as well as those with an immune-compromised state, have the highest risk of infection. Since people often spend a great deal of time in close proximity to their pets, there are many opportunities for exposure to disease causing organisms, such as Salmonella, through petting, grooming, food preparation, water bowls and litter boxes. The study concluded that cats fed raw meat contaminated with Salmonella are at risk for development of salmonellosis and may pose a disease risk to their owners and handlers. Feeding of raw meat contaminated by Salmonella and recovery of Salmonella from the feces of sled dogs and greyhounds has been documented, suggesting a risk of human infection from contact with infected dogs as well as cats. Due to these risks, AAHA recommends that pet owners not feed their pets a raw-meat based diet and encourages owners to ask their veterinarian for advice regarding a nutritionally balanced diet that is appropriate for their pet's age and lifestyle. "A substantial body of science-based nutritional data has contributed to the longer life span that our companion animals currently enjoy," says Dr. Welborn. "Your veterinarian uses these resources to provide nutritional recommendations that will help your pet live a long and healthy life." The American Animal Hospital Association is an international organization of more than 29,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, the association is well known among veterinarians for its high standards for hospitals and pet health care. For pet care information or a referral to an AAHA hospital, pet owners can visit the AAHA website at www.healthypet.com . |
#3
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Very interesting read....
Carrie "Steve Crane" wrote in message m... SOURCE: PRNewswire, 12/11/03 Study Finds Raw Food Diets Too Risky for Pets, Owners Popular Pet Diet May Pose Significant Health Risks for You and Your Pet Raw food diets are a growing trend among pet owners hoping to improve their pet's health. However, a study published in the November/December 2003 issue of the "Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association" found that these diets may cause a potentially fatal Salmonella infection. "While raw food diets are becoming increasingly popular among pet owners, there is a growing body of information showing that these diets pose a health risk not only for the pets that consume them but to their owners as well," says Link Welborn, DVM, AAHA president. Shane L. Stiver, DVM, Kendall S. Frazier, DVM, Michael J. Mauel, PhD, and Eloise L. Styer, PhD, from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a case study of two cats that developed salmonellosis (Salmonella infection) as a result of a raw meat-based diet. The salmonellosis caused gastrointestinal upset, weight loss and anorexia that resulted in the death of both cats. Salmonella in tissue cultures isolated from one of the cats was identical to cultures from the raw beef used in the cat's home-prepared diet, and the resulting infection was confirmed as the cause of death in both cases. The report is the first to describe the occurrence of salmonellosis in cats as a result of feeding a raw meat-based diet. The "JAAHA" study also found that while most human cases of salmonellosis result from direct exposure to contaminated food, there are documented cases of infection due to direct and indirect contact with infected pets. In cats and humans, the very young and very old, as well as those with an immune-compromised state, have the highest risk of infection. Since people often spend a great deal of time in close proximity to their pets, there are many opportunities for exposure to disease causing organisms, such as Salmonella, through petting, grooming, food preparation, water bowls and litter boxes. The study concluded that cats fed raw meat contaminated with Salmonella are at risk for development of salmonellosis and may pose a disease risk to their owners and handlers. Feeding of raw meat contaminated by Salmonella and recovery of Salmonella from the feces of sled dogs and greyhounds has been documented, suggesting a risk of human infection from contact with infected dogs as well as cats. Due to these risks, AAHA recommends that pet owners not feed their pets a raw-meat based diet and encourages owners to ask their veterinarian for advice regarding a nutritionally balanced diet that is appropriate for their pet's age and lifestyle. "A substantial body of science-based nutritional data has contributed to the longer life span that our companion animals currently enjoy," says Dr. Welborn. "Your veterinarian uses these resources to provide nutritional recommendations that will help your pet live a long and healthy life." The American Animal Hospital Association is an international organization of more than 29,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, the association is well known among veterinarians for its high standards for hospitals and pet health care. For pet care information or a referral to an AAHA hospital, pet owners can visit the AAHA website at www.healthypet.com . |
#4
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Here's another one....
Source: Joffe DJ, Schlesinger DP. Preliminary assessment of the risk of Salmonella infection in dogs fed raw chicken diets. Can Vet J. 2002: 43:441-442 "In the study, meal-sized samples of foods prepared by clients that regularly fed a BARF diet to their dogs as well as fecal samples from the dogs and similar samples from dogs fed commercial foods, were analyzed for Salmonella spp. All food and fecal samples from dogs fed the commercial foods were negative for Salmonella. Eight of the 10 food samples and three of the 10 fecal samples from the BARF-fed dogs tested positive for Salmonella. These results provide evidence that dogs fed a BARF diet are more likely to shed Salmonella in their stools. This may be of particular concern to pet owners with small children and those with aged or immune-compromised people in the household." ....and this came from a Purina Research Report--NOT a Hill's source, btw! |
#5
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Here's another one....
Source: Joffe DJ, Schlesinger DP. Preliminary assessment of the risk of Salmonella infection in dogs fed raw chicken diets. Can Vet J. 2002: 43:441-442 "In the study, meal-sized samples of foods prepared by clients that regularly fed a BARF diet to their dogs as well as fecal samples from the dogs and similar samples from dogs fed commercial foods, were analyzed for Salmonella spp. All food and fecal samples from dogs fed the commercial foods were negative for Salmonella. Eight of the 10 food samples and three of the 10 fecal samples from the BARF-fed dogs tested positive for Salmonella. These results provide evidence that dogs fed a BARF diet are more likely to shed Salmonella in their stools. This may be of particular concern to pet owners with small children and those with aged or immune-compromised people in the household." ....and this came from a Purina Research Report--NOT a Hill's source, btw! |
#7
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From: (Steve Crane)
SOURCE: PRNewswire, 12/11/03 Study Finds Raw Food Diets Too Risky for Pets, Owners Hmm...seems you failed to include this part: Here's a pertinent paragraph that the news report (and the vets interviewed) failed to include: "Healthy adult cats appear to have high immunological resistance to the development of clinical salmonellosis. In one study, experimental infection of healthy cats required inoculation of infectious organisms in numbers far exceeding those likely encountered in natural infection.3 Susceptibility to and severity of Salmonella infection is dependent on multiple factors, including inherited virulence factors of the pathogen, infectious dose, and host resistance factors. Host resistance to Salmonella in cats may be influenced by a number of variables, including age, immunocompetence, hospitalization, cage confinement, multicat environments (e.g., multicat households, animal shelters, catteries), medical or surgical procedures, chemotherapy, administration of exogenous glucocorticoid therapy, gestational status, prior or concurrent disease, and possibly prior immunization.3,6–9,11 Both of these cases originated in the same multicat household, and the affected animals were either very young (10 weeks) or very old (14.7 years), suggesting possible environmental stress, altered immune status, or both. Additionally, case no. 2 had concurrent respiratory infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica, incurring additional immunological and physiological stress with compromise to local pulmonary defense mechanisms. A recent report described a possible association between an outbreak of fatal salmonellosis among cattery-raised kittens and their earlier vaccination with a high-titer modified-live panleukopenia vaccine.11 Case no. 2 also had a history of recent vaccination for feline panleukopenia." So yeah, one of the two cats was a) a very young kitten, b) already sick with a respiratory infection, c) vaccinated for feline distemper, which according to the paragraph above has been associated with fatal salmonellanosis. Also: "Additional information regarding the storage and preparation of the home-prepared diet would be of interest in these cases. Unfortunately, this information was unavailable." Yeah, I'd say that would be extremely important. Since this study is based on only *2* cats from the *same* household, it would be of great interest to know how the meat was handled and stored, etc. What I find of interest is that in the over 1,000 members on my raw diet list, we have yet in the almost 4 years I've been on the list, encountered not one single case of salmonella infection. I have had cats get sick from commercial diets though. As wiith any food preparation, common sense must prevail. Wash surfaces, wash hands, etc., store meat properly as you would for yourself. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
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PawsForThought wrote in
on 12 Dec 2003: Hmm...seems you failed to include this part: Lauren, him posting that was a clear troll tactic. I'd ignore it. lol -- Cheryl "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller Worldwide Candle Lighting in Memory of all Children, Dec 14, 2003 7pm in all time zones http://thecompassionatefriends.org/2...L/2003_wcl.htm http://thecompassionatefriends.org/2003_WWCL/senres.htm -this in memory of my Eric- |
#9
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PawsForThought wrote in
on 12 Dec 2003: Hmm...seems you failed to include this part: Lauren, him posting that was a clear troll tactic. I'd ignore it. lol -- Cheryl "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller Worldwide Candle Lighting in Memory of all Children, Dec 14, 2003 7pm in all time zones http://thecompassionatefriends.org/2...L/2003_wcl.htm http://thecompassionatefriends.org/2003_WWCL/senres.htm -this in memory of my Eric- |
#10
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From: Cheryl
PawsForThought wrote in on 12 Dec 2003: Hmm...seems you failed to include this part: Lauren, him posting that was a clear troll tactic. I'd ignore it. lol -- Cheryl I know you're right for sure. I don't expect anything less from a Hill's sales rep, LOL. I wasn't going to reply but I just wanted people to know what kind of "study" this was and to see the parts Steve omitted. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
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