top of page

STUDY:
PREVALENCE OF BACTERIA IN RAW MEAT-BASED DIETS IN DOGS (AND CATS) VS KIBBLE (2017)

Fredriksson raw meat diet.png

Reference: Fredriksson-Ahomaa, M, Heikkilä, T, Pernu, N, Kovanen, S, Hielm-Björkman, A & Kivistö, R 2017, “Raw Meat-Based Diets in Dogs and Cats”, Veterinary Sciences, vol. 4, pp 33-41

Aim:

to investigate the prevalence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Yersinia in commercial raw meat based diets (RMBDs) from retail stores, and in the faeces of dogs and cats fed RMBDs vs those fed kibble. 

 

Sample:

  • 88 RMBDs from 12 producers in Finland bought from retail shops

  • Dogs: 50 faecal samples from 29 dogs fed RMBD and 21 dogs fed kibble.

  • Cats: 75 faecal samples were collected from two indoor cats living in the same household, fed RMBD daily

 

Key findings:

  • PCR only sporadically detected Campylobacter, Salmonella, and enteropathogenic Yersinia in RMBDs.  These pathogens were not found by culturing, indicating a low contamination level in frozen RMBDs.

  • Campylobacter:  more frequently detected in dogs fed RMBDs than in dogs fed kibble but not significant difference (p = 0.158)

  • Of the dogs fed RMBD, two (7%) shed Salmonella and one (3%) shed Yersinia enterocolitica.

  • Cats: Campylobacter was detected in most faecal samples.  Y. enterocolitica was detected in two faecal samples.  Salmonella was detected from both cats by PCR, but not by culturing.

 

No conflict of interest declared

 

Peer reviewed

bottom of page