Trichinosis Prevention in Dogs and Cats


trichinosis prevention in dogs and cats, proper handling of domestic and wild game meat
Take this important precaution to prevent trichinosis, and other parasitic infection when feeding your dog or cat raw food (muscle meat, organs, bone etc.) from domestic animals wild game, fish and shellfish. Prevention is simple,  follow the instructions provided below.

★ 1 min read
In this article: 
  1. What is trichinosis 
  2. How to Prevent Trichinella and other Parasitic Infection
    1. Instructions for The Raw Diet
      1. Butcher or Grocery Store Sourced Meat
      2. Meat Sourced From a Reputable Raw Food Supplier
      3. Meat Sourced Directly From a Farmer
      4. Wild Game Sourced From A Hunter or Self-Harvested
    2. Instructions for The Cooked Diet

1.0 What is Trichinosis?

Trichinosis is a disease found in wild carnivores, wild omnivores, wild and domestic herbivores, and domestic pigs.

Trichinosis is a food-borne infection transmitted by consuming raw or under cooked meat from animals that are infected with Trichinella and other parasites and parasitic infections. Trichinella is an example of one of the intestinal roundworms commonly found in wild animals.
 
The flesh of an infected animal contains live trichinella larvae embed in cysts. When your dog and cat consumes the flesh of an infected animal, the cysts pass through your dog and cat’s intestinal tract. From this intestinal tract the cysts migrate to other parts of the body,  invading other tissues, such as your dog and cat’s muscle tissue. 
 
The larvae cause damage to the tissue, resulting in minor and major symptoms of trichinosis. If only a few cysts are consumed, infection may not occur.  The likelihood of infection, and severity of infection increases with the number of trichinosis cysts consumed. Your dog or cat cannot infect you with trichinosis.
 
Trichinella and other intestinal parasites may be present in the following animals:
  • Domestic pigs 
  • Domestic horses
  • Black Bears
  • Brown Bears
  • Herbivores e.g. deer, elk, etc.
  • Small wild rodents
  • Wild Boar
  • Wild Fowl
  • Other wild carnivores
  • Marine animals such as polar bears, seals, walrus
  • Fish
  • Shellfish

2.0 How to Prevent Trichinella and Other Parasitic Infections

2.1 Instructions For The Raw Diet
 
Domestic animals such as pigs and horses can carry the trichinosis infection and other parasitic infestations and infections, however the cysts can be killed by freezing the meat in 6” (15.24 cm) thick or less cuts, for 21 days at 5 F, -15 C. 
 
2.1.1 Butcher or Grocery Store Sourced Meat
 
If you're purchasing meat (domestic animals, wild-caught animals, including fish) from a grocery store, butcher or local farmer you can ask if the meat was previously frozen and for how long. Typically, when purchasing from the butcher or grocery store the meat has been previously frozen. Once you bring the meat home, freeze it for two (2) to three (3) days prior to thawing and serving it raw to your dog and cat.

2.1.2 Meat Sourced From a Reputable Raw Pet Food Supplier

There is no need to freeze meat (domestic or wild game) that you've purchased from a reputable raw pet food supplier. The reputable raw food supplier will have properly sourced and prepared the meat (including fish), ensuring it is ready for immediate use.

2.1.3 Meat You've Purchased From a Farmer
 
If you purchase fresh-slaughtered (not previously frozen) muscle meat, organs, bones, whole prey, etc. freeze for a minimum of 21 days prior to serving it raw to your dog or cat.

2.1.4 Wild Game Sourced From a Hunter or Self-Harvested
 
If you're going to be feeding your dog or cat raw, wild game meat (from wild carnivores, omnivores or herbivores):

Make sure you're sourcing the wild game from a reputable supplier, or area known to have a low rate of trichinella.

The 21 day freezing technique discussed above is NOT reliable for wild game meats as trichinella present in wild game tend to be cold-hardy.   
 
The NCBI provides a chart reporting the resistance of trichinella cysts to freezing – you can view that chart here.

2.2 Instructions for The Cooked Diet

Cook wild game meats as per the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. Microwaving, or smoking meat will NOT kill the cysts that cause trichinosis infection. 
 

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Article by Karen Rosenfeld

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