Raw Feeding Dogs, Cats | Bad Bacteria and Parasite Free With This Simple Step
Are you feeding your dog and cat a raw diet? Perhaps you'd like to feed raw but you're nervous about transmission of bad bacteria and parasites (pathogens).
Don't stress. It's easy to ensure your dog's and cat's raw diet is free of pathogens:
- Include the simple steps outlined in this article, and;
- Clean-up counters, utensils, etc., after preparing raw meat (meat, organs, bone) the same way you clean-up after preparing raw meat for your human family's meals.
In this Article
★ 4.0 min read
- Follow This Simple Step For a Bad Bacteria and Parasite Free
- Raw Food From Your Butcher, Supermarket or Local Farm
- Previously Frozen
- Fresh, Never Frozen
- Raw Food From a Reputable Raw Pet Food Supplier
- Wild Game Sourced Directly From a Hunter
- Common Bad Bacteria (Pathogens) in Pet and Human Food
- Parasites in Domestic and Wild Game After Slaughter
- Species Appropriate Raw Food Diet
- Detailed Overview of a Species Appropriate Raw Diet
- Raw Meaty Bones
1.0 Follow This Simple Step For a Bad Bacteria and Parasite Free Raw Diet
Bad bacteria and parasites in domestic and wild animals can persist after the animal has been slaughtered. This simple step ensures your dog's and cat's raw food diet is free from pathogens that cause illness in pets and people.
Parasitic cysts and bad bacteria can be killed by freezing meat, organs and bones in up to 6 inch (15.24 cm) thick cuts, for 21 days, at 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius.
The requirement to freeze raw food before serving depends on where you source your raw food from. Choose based on the direction provided below.
1.1 Raw Food From Your Butcher, Supermarket or Local Farm
If you've purchased raw meat, organs, bones or whole prey from your butcher, supermarket, or a local farm typically the products been previously frozen, unless labelled otherwise (e.g. 'this product has never been frozen').
1.1.1 Previously Frozen
When you get home, freeze the raw product (e.g. muscle meat, organs, bone) for two (2) to three (3) days before thawing and serving raw to your dog or cat.
1.1.2 Fresh, Never Frozen
If you find out the product was not previously frozen prior to purchasing it, freeze it for 21 days prior to thawing and serving it to your dog and cat.
1.2 Raw Food From A Reputable Raw Pet Food Supplier
If
you've purchased raw meat, organs, bones for a species appropriate DIY diet or a premade raw food product from a reputable raw food supplier there is no need to freeze the product prior to thawing and serving to your dog or cat. If you're serving the product immediately (i.e. within two days of purchase) you can store it in the refrigerator. Otherwise, the product should be stored in the freezer until you're ready to thaw the product and then serve. Frozen raw should always by thaws-out in the refrigerator.
1.3 Wild Game Directly Sourced From A Hunter
If you've received fresh wild game from a hunter or harvested it yourself, it's important to ensure the wild game is sourced from an area known to:
- Have a low rate of trichinosis, or no trichinosis.
- Be free of brain wasting disease (chronic wasting disease).
While the 21-day freezing method discussed further above kills of parasitic cysts and bad bacteria it is NOT effective against cold-hardy trichinella present in wild game. Hence the importance of ensuring wild game for the raw diet is sourced in a trichinosis free or low rate region.
To learn more about trichinosis:
- Go to this article.
2.0 Common Bad Bacteria (Pathogens) in Pet and Human Food
Examples of common bacteria found in food including raw muscle meat, organs (sourced from domestic and wild game) include:
- Brucella
- Campylobacter
- Clostridium
- E. coli (escherichia coli)
- Listeria
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- Staphylococcus
The same bacteria is [more] common in highly processed pet food, with highest rates occurring in dry pet food (kibble, bisquits).
Intensively farmed animals have the highest bad bacteria infection rates. Learn more about intensively farmed animal (factory farmed animals) and resulting health risks to your dog and cat:
- Go to this article.
Follow the instructions further above to ensure your dog and cat's raw food is bad bacteria free.
3.0 Parasites in Domestic and Wild Game After Slaughter
Domestic and wild animals can be infected with parasites and parasitic cysts that survive in the animal's body after slaughter. Animals affected include:
- Antelope (venison)
- Beaver
- Deer (venison)
- Elk
- Fish
- Horse (domesticated)
- Moose
- Muskrat
- Pig (domesticated)
- Shellfish
- Squirrel
- Wild Boar
- Wild Fowl
- Wild Horse
- Wild Rabbit
- Other wild small prey and large prey
Follow the instructions further above to ensure your dog and cat's raw food is parasite and parasitic cyst free.
The risk of bad bacteria transmission from a raw diet is extremely low when properly sourced and prepared. You can learn more about the low risk of transmission in this research article.
4.0 Species Appropriate Raw Food Diet
4.1 Detailed Overview of a Species Appropriate Diet
Learn more about feeding your dog and cat a species appropriate raw food diet. For a detailed overview of a species appropriate raw food diet:
- Go to this article.
4.2 Raw Meaty Bones
Would you like to know more about the heath benefits and safe use of raw meaty bones for your dog and cat?
Raw Meaty Bones for Dogs:
- Health benefits
- A comprehensive list of raw meaty bones for dogs.
- Safety tips
Go to this article.
Raw Meaty Bones for Cats:
- Health benefits
- A comprehensive list of raw meaty bones for dogs.
- Safety tips
Go to this article.
Holistic Diet, Nutrition, Wellness Services Tailored to Your Individual Dog and Cat
For information about my holistic diet, nutrition and wellness services, visit my holistic wellness services page.
Maintain good health | Address acute and chronic health issues | Pre and post surgery support and recovery
My holistic wellness services are available worldwide via video consultation.
🌎 USA | Canada | UK | Europe | Australia | New Zealand | Asia | South and Central America | Africa | UAE
📱FaceTime | Facebook | MS Teams | WhatsApp
To set-up your holistic wellness consultation get in-touch via email, go to my contact me page.
Holistic Behavioral Services for Your Dog
For information about my holistic behavioral services, visit my holistic behavioral services page.
For dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds.
My behavioral services are available worldwide via video consultation.
🌎 USA | Canada | UK | Europe | Australia | New Zealand | Asia | South and Central America | Africa | UAE
📱FaceTime | Facebook | MS Teams | WhatsApp
To set-up your holistic behavioral session get in-touch via email, go to my contact me page.
Affiliations to Companies
✓ None.
✓ I don't sell food, supplements, or other products.
✓ I'm not aligned with any companies.
Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld.
