Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Undeclared animal DNA found in commercial raw meat diets for dogs
By Cox, Allison et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2020·Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Detection of DNA from undeclared animal species in commercial canine and feline raw meat diets using qPCR.
Plain-English summary
A study found that many raw meat diets for dogs and cats contain undeclared animal ingredients, which could be a concern for pets with food allergies. Researchers tested 18 different commercial raw meat diets and discovered that over 60% contained DNA from animals not listed on the label, with lamb often found in dog diets and turkey in cat diets. Because these diets may not be reliable for identifying food allergies, they are not recommended for pets undergoing elimination diets to diagnose cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFR).
People also search for: dog food allergies · cat raw meat diet risks · elimination diet for dogs · undeclared ingredients in pet food
Abstract
The best diagnostic test for cutaneous adverse food reactions (CAFR) in companion animals is an elimination diet and subsequent provocation trials. Many commercial diets contain novel protein ingredients used in elimination diets, and selection is based on label ingredients. Raw meat-based diets (RMBD) have become increasingly commercially available, gaining popularity despite potential health risks. Reliability of RMBD based on label ingredients has not been investigated. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), 9 canine and 9 feline commercial RMBD were assessed for reliability of species-specific animal DNA. Two separate batches of each diet were assessed for content consistency. The DNA of 1 or more unlisted animal species was identified in > 60% of diets, as was discrepancy between batches. The unlisted DNA most frequently detected was lamb in canine diets and turkey in feline diets. Based on these findings, use of commercially available RMBD cannot be recommended as an elimination diet in clinical diagnosis of CAFR.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32879524/