Raw meat for dogs associated with harmful bacteria

Researchers at the University of Bristol have found there is an association between feeding dogs raw meat and the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their stools.

In two studies, testing revealed that dogs fed on raw meat were more likely to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their faeces. The researchers suggest that cooked meat may therefore be a more appropriate form of food for dogs than uncooked, or at the very least, care must be taken when cleaning up after dogs that have eaten raw meat.

The two studies used data from different dogs and from animals of different ages, but neither of these variables nor the length of time the uncooked diet was used were relevant to the results. The environment within which a dog lives has been suggested to play a part in whether or not there is a presence of harmful bacteria, with country dogs being strongly associated with the bacteria and city-slicker canines found to have a mix.

Matthew Avison, Professor of Molecular Bacteriology from the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, who led the microbiology aspects of these studies, said: “Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are everywhere, but some antibiotics are considered critically important for use in humans. We have shown that dogs fed raw meat are more likely to carry bacteria resistant to these important medicines. This doesn’t mean that the animal, or the owner, will become sick.

“E. coli is a widespread bacterium that is found in the intestines of all humans and animals, however it is a common cause of many diseases including urinary tract infection and can cause serious illness including sepsis if it spreads to other parts of the body.

“We should do everything we can to reduce the circulation of critically important antibiotic-resistant E. coli and other bacteria. Our research adds to the increasing evidence that not feeding raw meat to dogs may help in that objective.”

Kristen Reyher, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and Population Health at the Bristol Veterinary School and co-author on both papers, said: “We know humans and animals share bacteria with one another, so what we find in your pet may well also be in you. Pet owners should be encouraged to practice good hygiene and not feeding raw food to your dog can be part of this. We can all do our part to decrease antibiotic resistance and its terrible effects on both human and animal health.”

The studies were published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and the journal One Health.

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