Search Results for “raw protein diet”

Risks of a raw meat diet for dogs and cats.

Feeding a raw diet increases the risk of bacterial and protozoal pathogen transmission to the pets consuming the diet as well as to people and other animals. Several studies have documented the presence of pathogens in raw diets for pets and in the feces of dogs and cats eating the raw diets. 114,115

Feeding a raw protein diet can endanger the health of both people and animals, according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). AAHA plans to release a position statement discouraging pet owners from feeding raw protein diets later this week. The second major veterinary group to take a stand on raw protein diets in recent weeks, AAHA says it is doing so because it wants to strengthen the valued relationship between human and animal. "We value the relationships between our pets and their families – we want to strengthen the human-animal bond by keeping both pets and people as healthy as possible," said Michael Cavanaugh, DVM, executive director of AAHA. AAHA joins the likes of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), which passed a policy discouraging the feeding of raw protein diets at its yearly conference in San Diego in early August 2012. AAHA leaders say its statement on raw protein diets was actually developed and passed by its board of directors prior to the AVMA policy. According to AAHA, the statement was developed without any input or knowledge from the AVMA. The text of the AAHA statement emphasizes the danger of feeding pathogenic organisms to animals that may then shed those organisms through their stool, creating danger for both humans and animals that may come in contact with it.

Raw food diets are rooted in the notion that dogs and cats are carnivores who crave protein and evolved to eat meat. But is meat what they really want to eat? Maybe only if it tastes good. A new study shows that when food is altered to remove the appetizing taste, dogs and cats will pass up protein in favor of other macronutrients. Specifically, dogs prefer fat, and cats like carbs.

The American Animal Hospital Association's position regarding raw protein diets.

A proposal advising pet owners against feeding animals raw protein diets was passed by an overwhelming majority at the August American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention. The resolution was passed at the House of Delegates (HOD) meeting with 90.9 percent in favor of the policy. Two amendments were proposed to the policy following discussion by a reference committee – the second amendment passed, while the first did not. The first amendment added a paragraph acknowledging that there are some pet owners who prefer to feed raw diets, and states that veterinarians should ensure that owners are aware of the risks and measures to mitigate the health risks. Those opposing the first amendment said they felt that it weakened the policy and that the policy is based on sound evidence that there is risk in feeding a raw protein diet to pets. Those supporting the amendment felt it was necessary to allow veterinarians to serve clients without facing conflict with AVMA policy.

Discussion about raw food for pets and other several animal welfare policies top the list of notable events happening at the August American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention. The convention will run Aug. 3-7, 2012 in San Diego, Calif. The AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) will hold its two-day summer meeting before the convention. During the meeting, the HOD will address its first policy on raw food diets for pets, and will discuss its pharmacies, animal fighting and animal restraint policies. The HOD will also vote on a proposal to eliminate the position of AVMA vice president. Raw protein diets for pets have been controversial topics in the pet community. In the raw protein diet proposal, the AVMA said that it "discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs as well as humans." In a July 18, 2012 post on its website, the AVMA said its policies are based on a thorough review of scientific literature and are drafted by veterinarians with expertise in relevant fields.

It’s like the paleo diet, only for pets. Grain-free, all-meat, and raw-food diets are hugely popular with pet owners who like the idea of feeding their cats and dogs a diet that’s closer to what their ancestor ate in the wilds. The problem is, there’s no hard, scientific evidence that raw meat–based diets (RMBDs) are any healthier than traditional dry or canned pet foods.

Feeding dogs raw chicken meat, particularly chicken necks, has been linked to a rare but potentially fatal type of canine paralysis. A study by researchers at University of Melbourne’s U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, found that dogs who consumed raw chicken meat had a 70% greater risk of developing acute polyradiculoneuritis (APN).