Key Takeaways:
– The popularity of raw pet food diets is increasing despite warnings from health experts about potential risks.
– The US Food and Drug Administration has flagged cases of bird flu (H5N1) in domestic and wild cats linked to contaminated pet food.
– Cats are increasingly vulnerable to the virus, with at least 74 pet cats in the US testing positive for bird flu since December 2022.
– Infectious disease experts warn that raw pet foods can bring dangerous viruses closer to pets and humans.
– Some pet owners blame the consumption of contaminated raw foods for their pets’ serious illnesses and death.
Increasing Interest in Raw Pet Foods: A Growing Public Health Concern
An urban suburban in Portland, Oregon, found herself in the throes of a public health concern following her decision to feed her pet cat a diet of raw food. The woman’s choice mirrored a growing nationwide predilection for raw foods among pet owners, fueled by an increasing distrust in highly processed foods and chemical additives. However, infectious disease experts have raised red flags about this trend, particularly in the presence of safety steps such as heating milk and cooking meats, which serve to kill off dangerous viruses and bacteria.
Danger of Bird Flu Through Raw Pet Food
In an alarming development, the US Food and Drug Administration reported that it is tracking several instances of bird flu, specifically the H5N1 strain, in both domestic and wild cats. Notably, a few of these cases have been linked to pet food contamination. While dogs can also be infected with this strain of bird flu, they usually exhibit milder symptoms, while cats face a higher risk level.
Prompted by these developments, the FDA has urged pet food manufacturers to consider the risk posed by bird flu in their required food safety plans. Manufacturers have been directed to either add a cooking step for animal produce such as milk, meat, and eggs, or implement the necessary supply chain controls to ensure that the ingredients they use do not come from infected sources. The agency has also advised consumers to evaluate these risks before opting for raw pet food diets.
Real-life Consequences: From Health to Tragedy
Tragic reminders of the potential risks related to raw pet foods are not hard to come by. For instance, a dog trainer chose to feed her Maine Coon, Villain, a diet of raw food. The cat fell ill suddenly after a Thanksgiving feast, puzzling the veterinarians who were trying to diagnose her. Despite intense efforts, Villain’s condition worsened, and she eventually died after her brain began to swell. In an attempt to understand why she had lost her beloved pet, the owner sent Villain’s body for a necropsy at Oregon State University.
The results were devastating. The cause of Villain’s death turned out to be the H5N1 bird flu, resulting from contaminated pet food. This revelation left the owner feeling responsible for her pet’s death and forced her to take antiviral medication to ensure that she hadn’t contracted the infection from Villain.
The Risks Associated with Raw Pet Foods
The popularity of raw foods is not isolated to pet diets, with whole aisles in grocery and pet stores dedicated to these products, eying the market’s projected growth from $3.7 billion in 2024 to $6.4 billion in 2028. While preventive measures are in place to avoid products from infected animals entering the food supply, the raw pet food market remains burdened with risks.
Companies often label their products as “raw” to denote that they haven’t undergone heat treatment. They may undergo other paths of pathogen reduction like high-pressure processing, acidification, or irradiation, but their effectiveness on strains like H5N1 remains questionable.
Moreover, there is the risk of cross-contamination while preparing pet foods in shared spaces, increasing the chance of infection. Vets and infectious disease experts also argue that there are no nutritional advantages to raw diets. Raw foods can contain harmful debris and may cause serious nutritional imbalances, particularly for people who mix their pets’ foods at home.
Moving Forward: Reevaluating the Risks
In the wake of serious directly linked incidents, raw food manufacturers and consumers alike are yet to grasp the full scale of potential health risks. In the meantime, the need to educate the public and impose stricter regulations for raw pet foods has never been more pressing. While raw food products may be promoted for their perceived natural benefits, it’s important for pet owners to understand that the health risks associated with these diets could lead to irreversible damage. Ultimately, it’s up to individual pet owners to make informed choices for their pets.