Today you hear a lot of hype about raw food diets being more natural and better. While the topic can be debated for hours, there are a few safety issues that you should be aware. For people handling raw food, be sure to wash your hands well before and after handling food items as well as the surfaces that you use to prepare the meal. This is a general rule for food handling and is obviously not unique to "raw food" diets. People with weakened immune systems are certainly at higher risk of falling ill if exposed to a bacteria that causes food poisoning. Parasites can also be of concern, although it is seen less frequently (Think of your cat or dog getting tapeworms from eating mice or rabbits) Prepackaged raw food diets have been known to carry pathogens such as Listeria, Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli. The same can be true for raw food items purchased through a grocery store.
If you are feeding a raw prepackaged
or homemade diet, please do the research to make sure it is balanced for vitamins and minerals. Deficiencies or excesses can take a long time to show up or could developmentally affect the growth of a puppy or kitten. There are plenty of websites with veterinary nutritionists that can help you make a balanced meal for your pets. One such website is www.Balanceit.com. There are also nutritionists available for consult through Colorado State University or other veterinary universities.
To feed a raw diet to your pet is a personal choice. Be aware and educated of the potential concerns and make sure your pet is getting a balanced diet.