Superbug in raw dog food puts pets in danger

FEEDING dogs a trendy raw-meat diet poses a public health risk due to a threat from potentially dangerous superbugs, according to scientists.

Giving uncooked meat to pets has grown in popularity because owners believe it mimics a natural canine diet and is better than cooked or processed pet food.

But researchers have uncovered evidence that some raw dog food products contain bacteria resistant to many types of antibiotics commonly used to treat illness in humans.

All 14 samples of raw dog food tested contained drug-resistant forms of Enterococcus, a type of bacteria found in animals’ intestines. Tests on samples of 41 other dog foods, including wet food, dry food and treats, found only three contained antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus, but 16 had ‘non-superbug’ strains of the bacteria.

Normally harmless if confined to the gut, Enterococcus can wreak havoc in other parts of the human body, even causing sepsis.

In a separate study, scientists found a gene giving bacteria resistance to another important antibiotic is being passed from pets to humans. The findings from both studies are presented this weekend to the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Dr Ana Freitas, of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Porto University in Portugal, who led the dog food research, said: ‘The close contact of humans and dogs… poses an international public health risk.’

She added: ‘[The] authorities must raise awareness about the potential health risks when feeding raw diets to pets. The manufacture of dog food, including ingredient selection and hygiene practices, must be reviewed.’

The raw samples tested were from two unnamed brands of dog food sold in Portugal.