BACKGROUND: Feeding raw meat is becoming increasingly common among dog owners. This feeding practice can pose a hygienic risk and can lead to health risks for dogs and their owners. Hygienically sound food rations, that are balanced in terms of all nutrients and energy, must be feed to breeding dogs. The aim of this study was to record the influence of raw feeding on the occurrence of mastitis, metritis and the survival of puppies. An online questionnaire was sent to kennel club registered dog breeders in Germany and Switzerland. A total of 531 litters were recorded and evaluated. Mastitis and/or metritis were present in 9,2 % and 2,8 % (n = 49 and n = 15, respectively) of the breeding bitches. 29 % (n = 154) of the breeders reported loss of puppies in the litter. The most common cause were stillbirths (n = 105 litters with 187 stillborn puppies), and/or early mortality (n = 50 litters with 73 puppies that died in the first 48 hours). The occurrence of puppy losses in the litter and/or a higher proportion of puppy losses in the litter was favored by increased body weight of the bitch in larger dog breeds, existing previous illnesses, previously reported gestation or postpartum problems, increasing length of the parturition phase and/or a cesarean section. A higher total number of surviving puppies was associated with increased weight and anamnestic reported health of the bitch and the use of milk powder instead of other milk substitutes. A relationship between raw feeding and the occurrence of mastitis, metritis, the total number of surviving puppies and/or the occurrence or proportion of pup losses in the litter and was not found in this study. However very few breeders in this cohort fed their bitches raw, which in turn was due to the random selection of breeders. Many years of breeding experience and the increasing parity of the bitch had a clearly positive influence on the health of the bitch.
BACKGROUND: Die Fütterung von rohem Fleisch wird von Hundehaltenden immer häufiger praktiziert. Diese Fütterung kann ein Hygienerisiko darstellen und zu Gefahren für die Gesundheit von Hund und ihren Besitzerinnen und Besitzern führen. Insbesondere in der Hundezucht sollte auf hygienisch einwandfreie und auf in allen Nährstoffen und Energie bilanzierte Futterrationen geachtet werden. Ziel dieser Studie war es, neben bereits bekannten Faktoren den Einfluss einer Rohfütterung auf das Auftreten von Mastitis und Metritis sowie das Überleben der Welpen zu erfassen. Anhand eines online versandten Fragebogens an Hundezüchtende, die in Deutschland oder der Schweiz ansässig und in einem Zuchtclub eingetragen sind, wurden 531 Würfe erfasst und ausgewertet. Eine Mastitis und/oder Metritis zeigten 9,2 % bzw. 2,8 % (n= 49 bzw. n= 15) der Zuchthündinnen. Von Welpenverlusten im Wurf berichteten 29 % (n= 154) der Züchterinnen und Züchter.. Am häufigsten waren Würfe mit Totgeburten (n= 105 Würfe mit 187 totgeborenen Welpen), und/oder Frühsterblichkeit (n= 50 Würfe mit 73 Welpen, die in den ersten 48 Stunden verstarben). Das Auftreten von Welpenverlusten im Wurf und/oder ein höherer Anteil an Welpenverlusten im Wurf wurde durch das zunehmende Körpergewicht der Mutterhündin grösserer Hunderassen, bestehende Vorerkrankungen, vorberichtliche Reproduktionsprobleme in einer früheren Trächtigkeit oder postpartal, durch zunehmende Länge der Geburtsaustreibungsphase und/oder einen Kaiserschnitt begünstigt. Eine höhere Gesamtzahl überlebender Welpen war mit dem zunehmenden Gewicht und der vorberichtlichen Gesundheit der Mutterhündin sowie der Verwendung von Trockenmilchpulver anstelle anderer Milchersatzprodukte assoziiert. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen Rohfütterung und dem Auftreten von Mastitis, Metritis und/oder dem Auftreten oder dem Anteil von Welpenverlusten im Wurf und der Gesamtzahl der überlebenden Welpen wurde in dieser Studie nicht festgestellt, allerdings fütterten in dieser Kohorte sehr wenige Züchterinnen und Züchter ihre Hündinnen roh, was wiederum durch die zufällige Auswahl der Züchterinnen und Züchter bedingt war. Einen deutlich positiven Einfluss auf die Gesundheit der Mutterhündinnen hatte eine langjährige Zuchterfahrung und die zunehmende Parität der Mutterhündin.
BACKGROUND: L’alimentation à base de viande crue est de plus en plus répandue parmi les propriétaires de chiens. Cette pratique alimentaire peut présenter un risque hygiénique et entraîner des dangers pour la santé des chiens et de leurs propriétaires. Des rations alimentaires hygiéniques et équilibrées en termes de nutriments et d’énergie doivent en particulier être données aux chiens reproducteurs. L’objectif de cette étude était d’enregistrer l’influence de l’alimentation crue sur l’apparition de mammites, de métrites et sur la survie des chiots. Un questionnaire en ligne a été envoyé aux éleveurs de chiens enregistrés auprès d’un club d’élevage en Allemagne et en Suisse. Au total, 531 portées ont été enregistrées et évaluées. Une mammite et/ou une métrite étaient présentes chez 9,2 % et 2,8 % (n = 49 et n = 15, respectivement) des chiennes reproductrices. 29 % (n = 154) des éleveurs ont signalé la perte de chiots dans la portée. La cause la plus fréquente était la mortinatalité (n = 105 portées avec 187 chiots mort-nés) et/ou la mortalité précoce (n = 50 portées avec 73 chiots morts dans les 48 premières heures). Les pertes de chiots dans la portée et/ou une proportion plus élevée de pertes de chiots dans la portée était favorisée par un poids corporel plus élevé de la chienne dans les grandes races de chiens, des maladies antérieures existantes, des problèmes de gestation ou de post-partum déjà signalés, une durée plus longue de la phase de parturition et/ou une césarienne. Un nombre total plus élevé de chiots survivants a été associé à un poids plus élevé et à un état de santé anamnestique de la chienne, ainsi qu’à l’utilisation de lait en poudre plutôt que d’autres substituts du lait. Cette étude n’a pas mis en évidence de lien entre l’alimentation crue et l’apparition de mammites, de métrites, le nombre total de chiots survivants et/ou l’apparition ou la proportion de pertes de chiots dans la portée. Cependant, très peu d’éleveurs de cette cohorte ont nourri leurs chiennes avec des aliments crus, ce qui est dû à la sélection aléatoire des éleveurs. Une longue expérience de l’élevage et l’augmentation de la parité de la chienne ont eu une influence clairement positive sur la santé de la chienne.
BACKGROUND: L’alimentazione a base di carne cruda viene praticata sempre più spesso dai proprietari di cani. Questa alimentazione può rappresentare un rischio igienico e comportare pericoli per la salute dei cani e dei loro proprietari. Soprattutto nell’allevamento dei cani, è necessario prestare attenzione a razioni alimentari igienicamente sicure e bilanciate in termini di nutrienti e di energia. Lo scopo di questo studio era di determinare l’influenza dell’alimentazione a base di carne cruda sull’insorgenza di mastite, metrite e sopravvivenza dei cuccioli, oltre ai fattori già noti. Utilizzando un questionario online inviato ad allevatori di cani con sede in Germania o in Svizzera e registrati in un club di allevamento, sono state registrate e analizzate 531 cucciolate. Mastite e/o metrite sono state riscontrate nel 9,2 % e nel 2,8 % (rispettivamente n= 49 e n= 15) delle cagne da riproduzione. La perdita di cuccioli della cucciolata è stata segnalata dal 29 % (n= 154) degli allevatori. Le cause più comuni erano le cucciolate con nati morti (n= 105 cucciolate con 187 cuccioli nati morti), e/o mortalità prematura (n= 50 cucciolate con 73 cuccioli morti nelle prime 48 ore). L’insorgenza delle perdite di cuccioli e/o una percentuale più elevata di perdite di cuccioli è stata influenzata dall’aumento del peso corporeo della madre nelle razze canine più grandi, da condizioni preesistenti, da problemi riproduttivi segnalati in una gravidanza precedente o nel post-partum, dall’aumento della durata del parto e/o da un taglio cesareo. Un numero totale più elevato di cuccioli sopravvissuti era associato all’aumento del peso e dello stato di salute anamnestico della madre e all’uso di latte in polvere al posto di altri sostituti del latte. In questo studio non è stata riscontrata un’associazione tra l’alimentazione con carne cruda e l’incidenza di mastite, metrite e/o l’incidenza o la percentuale di perdite di cuccioli nella cucciolata e il numero totale di cuccioli sopravvissuti; tuttavia, pochissimi allevatori di questa coorte hanno alimentato le loro cagne con carne cruda, sempre a causa della selezione casuale degli allevatori. L’esperienza di allevamento a lungo termine e l’aumento della parità della cagna madre hanno avuto un’influenza chiaramente positiva sulla salute delle cagne madri.

Feeding raw meat to domestic pets is a popular practice. Because of the potential food safety implications associated with handling raw meat, concerns about pet owner health have increased. For this study, a netnographic content analysis approach was used to analyze posts from Pet Forums Community online archives related to raw meat-based feeding and food safety (n = 308). United Kingdom manufacturer and supplier Web sites (n = 33) were reviewed for provision of food safety information related to raw meat-based pet feeding. The data were analyzed using a qualitative thematic approach and quantitative methods. Pet owner forum comments indicated potential malpractices and indifference toward possible food safety hazards when preparing raw meat-based pet food. Many were risk aware but indicated confusion regarding appropriate food safety practices. Although emotional concern about the safety of pets and children was expressed, contracting a foodborne disease was not perceived as a personal risk. In addition, the review identified that most (61%) manufacturer and supplier Web sites failed to provide food safety instructions or warnings to pet owners regarding raw meat-based pet food. Information was inconsistent and varied across sources. The most comprehensive sources of information were provided by manufacturers approved by the United Kingdom Pet Food Manufacturers\' Association. This is the first netnography study to explore pet owner online reports and the provision of food safety information related to raw pet feeding. Findings suggest pet owners may not fully appreciate the potential risks associated with raw meat-based pet feeding. Consequently, there is a need for credible and consistent strategies to inform pet owners about potential implications associated with feeding raw meat to pets, as well as about safe food handling practices.

BACKGROUND: Biologically appropriate raw food (BARF) diet is becoming more and more popular among pet owners in Europe. However, there are documented microbiological risks associated with raw feeding, and this study aimed to determine the presence of human pathogens in commercially frozen BARF products sold in Italy.
METHODS: Salmonella species, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter species were identified. The general microbiological quality of BARF products and hygiene were also evaluated. Sample size was limited and therefore the study may not be representative of a larger sample.
RESULTS: None of the tested samples showed total bacterial count (TBC) higher than the limit set to consider a sample unacceptable. However, 14 out of 21 samples showed TBC higher than the limit set to consider a sample marginally acceptable. A high percentage of samples were contaminated by the aforementioned pathogens, highlighting the need for pet owners to be aware of the risks of this feeding strategy both to themselves and to their pets.
CONCLUSIONS: Considering that BARF diet meals can be prepared at home using the hands, as well as tools and spaces that could be shared, guidelines on safer handling of these pet food products should be recommended by veterinarians and nutritionists.

An industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Australia has long suffered from bulking problems associated with the proliferation of Thiothrix spp. The WWTP consists of a covered anaerobic lagoon (CAL) followed by a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The CAL functions as both an anaerobic digester and surge lagoon for the irregular flow of wastewater generated from the production of seasonal products. Chemical analysis of the raw influent showed it was composed of a mixture of organic acids, phenols and alcohols. The CAL effluent was characterised by high acetic acid and phenolic concentrations. An attempt was made to manipulate the SBR microbial community to improve settling by direct feeding small volumes of raw influent into the SBR. After raw feeding, the plant ceased bulking as the settled sludge volume reduced from 930 to 200mLL-1. 16S rRNA gene profiling and biovolumes of SBR samples revealed major changes in the microbial community. The Thiothrix spp. population decreased from 36.8% to 0.2%, and Zoogloea spp. dominated all samples after raw feeding. Therefore, direct feeding is proposed as a control method for industrial plants with surge/anaerobic lagoons in order to manage the bulking problems caused by Thiothrix spp. in downstream SBRs.