Feeding raw meat-based diets to dogs is a growing trend in companion animal nutrition. Frozen commercially prepared products are the most common and the number of UK suppliers is increasing annually. Ingredients of animal origin are thermally untreated and include muscle tissue, organs and bones. Supporters claim numerous improvements to health and behaviour, but risks have been identified including the presence of bacterial contamination. With many bacterial infections, dogs are frequently asymptomatic carriers, shedding pathogens into their environment creating a zoonotic transmission risk. Humans are at risk of oral ingestion through contact with infected animals, faeces, contaminated food, surfaces and feeding bowls. In this study the presence, type and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial pathogens in commercial raw dog food was tested using standard culture and molecular assays. Sixteen products, evenly split between beef and chicken as the primary meat product, were initially tested to determine any presence of bacteria. Colonies were produced in 100% of raw samples and 25% when the food had been heat treated. On specific media, E. coli was 100% present and resistant to at least three antibiotics with 69% resistance to all six drugs tested. Salmonella spp. was 100% present and resistant to at least one antibiotic with 12% resistance to all six. Serotyping isolated S. Infantis in two products, S. Heidelberg in two products and S. Anatum in one product. None of these serovars are regularly isolated from UK livestock and it is likely the meat products involved were imported. It is possible for raw meat-based diets to be contaminated with bacterial pathogens as demonstrated by multiple studies including this one. It is now imperative that manufacturers, retailers, veterinarians and organisations responsible for animal health develop effective ways to communicate the risks and safe handling practices to pet owners.
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