Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pathogenic bacteria in dog poop from raw meat or dry food diets
By Runesvärd, Ellinor et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2020·Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Presence of pathogenic bacteria in faeces from dogs fed raw meat-based diets or dry kibble.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that dogs fed raw meat-based diets (RMBD) had a higher presence of harmful bacteria in their feces compared to dogs eating dry kibble. Out of 25 dogs on RMBD, 13 had dangerous bacteria, while only one dog on kibble showed similar results. This suggests that feeding dogs RMBD could pose health risks not just for the dogs, but also for people who handle their waste. If you're considering a raw diet for your dog, it might be worth discussing these potential risks with your veterinarian.
People also search for: dog raw meat diet bacteria · risks of feeding dogs raw food · dog kibble vs raw diet health concerns
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Feeding dogs with raw meat-based diets (RMBD) has increased in popularity in recent years. Proponents claim that RMBD is more natural for dogs, because it is what their ancestors (wolves) eat. Opponents claim that RMBD is a health hazard to both humans and animals, with a risk of spreading zoonotic bacteria and resistant bacterial strains. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated differences in bacteria shedding in faeces between dogs fed RMBD and dogs fed dry kibble. Faeces samples from 50 dogs from the same municipality were analysed for the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing,and. RESULTS: For the 25 dogs fed RMBD, ESBLwas isolated from 13 faeces samples,from 12 andfrom 1. For the 25 dogs fed dry kibble, ESBL-producingwas isolated from one faeces sample andfrom four, whilewas not detected. CONCLUSION: There was thus a significant difference in excretion of zoonotic and resistant bacteria in faeces between dogs fed RMBD and dogs fed dry kibble. These results confirm that RMBD can pose a microbiological risk not only for dogs, but also for people handling RMBD and faeces from dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32054718/