Stress sanitary practices with raw food diets

During her CVC Kansas City lecture on raw food diets in dogs and cats, Dr. Mary Bowles offered a neutral stance on the controversial trend and provided helpful information that veterinary team members can pass on to clients who choose this kind of feeding for their animals. One of the most important things is to make sure pet owners follow the necessary sanitation guidelines in order to avoid contamination and disease. Here are some tips you can share with them:

Use appropriate sanitary technique when handling raw food, food bowls and feces gathered for disposal. This includes:

> Washing hands prior to and following contact with raw meat.

> Having a cutting board dedicated to raw meat prep.

> Having a dedicated utensil for serving food.

> Washing and disinfecting food and water bowls and serving utensil, ideally in a sink located in a place other than the kitchen or bathroom.

> Avoiding allowing young, elderly or immunocompromised people to handle raw food diets.

> Using high-quality ingredients that have been properly stored.

> Feeding a reasonable amount of prepared food that can be eaten in a limited time period.

> Avoiding feeding pets in kitchen.

> Thawing frozen raw food diets in fridge or microwave.

> Refrigerating or discarding food immediately after preparation or after feeding time is over.

And as always, ensure that your clients know all the potential benefits and risks associated with raw food diets before they make a decision.