Is your pet’s food contaminated with Salmonella?

Is your pet’s food contaminated with Salmonella?

Salmonella is a bacteria that is most often spread through ingestion of food or water contaminated with fecal material.  Salmonella contamination has recently been implicated in pet food recalls and concerns over exposure to pets and humans alike have increased.  Pet food, supplements, and treats may all carry a risk of contamination directly or can be infected by cross contamination in facilities that handle these products.

Illness from Salmonella most often affects the young and old and the immune compromised in both animals and humans, but the bacteria can be carried by apparently healthy individuals.  There are a reported 1.4 million reported cases of salmonella-related illness and 400 related deaths per year in the United States.  To protect both your two-legged and furry family members, it is important to take precautions to avoid exposure or continued contamination by Salmonella bacteria.

Here are some important guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association to prevent the spread of Salmonella in your home:

• Avoid feeding raw diets, commercial or homemade, to your pets which can habor the bacteria if precautions are not properly taken during processing, handling, and storage.
• Purchase individually packaged pig ears, rather than buying from bulk bins—more than 50% of pig ears tested from bulk bins have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella. (Note: Coal Creek Veterinary Hospital does not generally recommend pig ears as treats because of the risk of tooth fracture).
• Make sure packaging of pet food products are in good condition and return if they appear tainted, discolored, or smell abnormal.
• Discourage children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed people from handling food and treats.
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling pet food, treats, and nutritional products.
• Use a clean scoop to dispense food and regularly wash water and food bowls with hot water in sink other than the kitchen or bathroom to prevent spread of the bacteria.
• Avoid feeding pets in the kitchen.
• Make sure to save the original food packaging materials including date code and product code in case your pet’s food is recalled.

Written by:  Stephanie Kotas, DVM