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Study reviews raw pet food risks
‘There appears little doubt from survey evidence that the prevalence of potentially serious pathogens is substantially higher in raw pet food than in heat-treated food.’

‘Little doubt’ that serious pathogens are more prevalent in raw diets

Vets and public health practitioners should continue to communicate the risks of raw pet food to consumers and producers, a review has concluded.

Researchers from the APHA and the University of Surrey reviewed current evidence on the risks and benefits of raw diets.

Their findings, published in JSAP, show that there is formal evidence of an altered intestinal microbiome and (subjectively) improved stool quality in dogs that are fed these diets.

There is no robust evidence, however, to support many of the other claimed benefits of a raw food diet, such as inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, endocrine or behavioural advantages.

In addition, there are documented risks - predominantly malnutrition owing to inexpert formulation and testing, and infections in pets or their owners. Salmonella has been found consistently in a proportion of samples in European and North American studies.

Other organisms of concern include Listeria, shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli, Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella suis.

A recent paper also found that 13 TB cases in UK cats were likely the result of their diet. All cats were fed Natural Instinct Wild Venison, a commercial raw mince for cats.

Another emerging issue of concern is the risk of introducing antibiotic resistant bacteria, something which researchers said may have been under-appreciated until now.

Raw pet food often exceeds hygiene thresholds for counts of Enterobacteriaceae, which commonly encode resistance to critically important antibiotics, such as extended-spectrum cephalosporins. Pets fed a raw diet are at increased risk of shedding this bacteria.

Researchers concluded that the advice against raw feeding of pets ‘appears justified’, particularly for individuals that are especially vulnerable to infectious disease.

Current data on the risks are ‘fragmentary’ but there is a growing body of formal scientific evidence on the risks of these diets. The research team said it is important that vets, public health practitioners and organisations continue to communicate these risks to consumers and producers.

They wrote: ‘There appears little doubt from survey evidence that the prevalence of potentially serious pathogens is substantially higher in raw pet food than in heat-treated food.’

Mitigation measures focusing on human health, for example safer handling of products, could have the most significant impact in the short-to-medium term, they added.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.