London, Jan 14 (PTI) Pet owners, take note! Feeding yourfurry friends raw meat may put them at risk of exposure toharmful parasites and bacteria, a study has warned.
The study, published in the journal Veterinary Record,found that pet foods and treats that include raw meat, organsor meaty bones include parasites such as tapeworms, as well asthe bacteria Escherichia coli and Salmonella.
Introducing these pathogens into homes throughcontaminated pet foods may also put humans at the risk ofinfection, according to the researchers from UtrechtUniversity in The Netherlands.
Pet owners who choose to feed their animals with a rawmeat-based diet may think that they are offering a healthierchoice.
However, no studies show that these diets provide healthbenefits. Instead, previous research has shown that theopposite is true, researchers said.
Raw meat-based diet was linked to gastroenteritis anddiarrhea in dogs, and to a deadly type of Salmonella infectionin cats, 'Live Science' reported.
Raw meat-based diet can lack important nutrients, whichcan lead to health problems, particularly in young animals.
Since dogs diverged from their wolf ancestors more than10,000 years ago, genetic differences have also emerged thathave left dogs better equipped to handle a diet that includesstarches as well as meats.
MHN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.