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risks from ingestion of bones, and hyperthyroidism. In addition to these risks, recent scientific studies have shown that nearly all RMBD (whether commercial or home-made) are contaminated with bacteria, as with any type of unprocessed raw meat. Salmonella contamination rates for RMBD have been measured at between 20-48%. Other bacteria identified in RMBD include E coli 0157, Campylobacter, and Listeria. Infections caused by these diets have been diagnosed in pets and, because pets eating contaminated RMBD shed potentially dangerous bacteria in their feces, these diets also are risky for humans in the same household and who otherwise come into contact with the animal. For more details on the risks and common myths about RMBD, please see the attached fact sheet written by Drs. Freeman and Heinze or a recent article published by Dr. Freeman: · Freeman LM, Chandler ML, Hamper BA, Weeth LP. Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med 2013;243 (11): 1549-1558 (available at javma.243.11.1549) For information on scheduling a nutrition appointment and resources including FAQs on pet nutrition, home-cooked diets, and feeding tubes, vet.tufts.edu/nutrition/ For information on selecting the best pet food, using the internet effectively and objectively for pet nutrition questions, assessing your pet’s body condition, how many calories your pet should be eating, and more, we recommend the handouts available in the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Nutrition Toolkit: hn-toolkit Raw meat diets, are they worth the risk? REFERENCES Dillitzer N, Becker N, Kienzle E. Intake of minerals, trace elements and vitamins in bone and raw food rations in adults dogs. Brit J Nutr 2011; 106: S53-S56. FDA guidance for industry: Manufacture and labeling of raw meat foods for companion and captive noncompanion carnivores &. Routine laboratory parameters in healthy dogs fed raw food diets (abstract). AAVN Clinical Nutrition and Research Symposium, Charlotte, NC, June 4, 2003. 4 • Assess a patient’s nutritional status at every visit — Including a thorough diet history and assessment of weight, body condition and muscle condition. • Recommend the diet that is optimal for the individual pet, based on his/her individual health, body condition and activity level. • Feed and recommend a diet made by a well-known and reputable company – some criteria include: — Employing at least one full-time qualified nutritionist (either a PhD nutritionist or an American College of Veterinary Nutrition board-certified veterinary nutritionist). — Having their own manufacturing plants. — Conducting and publishing nutritional research so that continued improvements are made to their diets (and to our collective knowledge about pet nutrition). — Using strict internal quality control testing and standards (e.g., ingredients, end product, shelf life, accountability). *Note that dogs and cats with certain medical conditions may benefit from customized dietary modifications where consultation with a veterinary nutritionist who is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN; www.acvn.org) may be beneficial. GENERAL DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DOGS AND CATS* RD 401 © 2012 P&G 1 Raw meat diets can be homemade from various recipes (e.g., BARF or Ultimate Diet) and are also available commercially from a variety of companies. Commercial raw diets are typically frozen or freeze-dried but some can even look like regular dry food (e.g., diets with a raw meat coating). ARE RAW MEAT DIETS HEALTHIER? Proponents of raw meat diets anecdotally report numerous benefits, but, at this time, there are no scientific studies showing any health benefits from raw meat diets.One recent study in cats did show a small increase in digestibility from a raw beef-based diet compared to a commercial extruded diet (about 8 percent higher for total energy digestibility [Kerr et al, 2012]). However, there was no difference in digestibility between the raw meat diet and a cooked meat diet, suggesting that the difference was not the result of the diet being raw. The effects of this small, but significant, difference in digestibility in non-extruded diets warrants additional research but does not appear to provide sufficient evidence to outweigh the potential risks for raw meat diets. There are an increasing number of studies that show important concerns for nutritional imbalances, health risks to the animal and public health concerns. No scientific studies have been published showing the health benefits from raw meat diets. Sponsored through a P&G Pet Care educational grant to provide educational information from leading experts on nutrition to pet owners. For more information on P&G Pet Care, visit PGpetwellness.com, Iams.com, Eukanuba.com, Naturapet.com. Cailin R. Heinze, VMD, MS, DACVN earned her VMD degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. After veterinary school, she worked in private practice for three years before pursuing a residency in clinical nutrition at the University of California, Davis. While at Davis, Dr. Heinze earned a Master’s degree in Nutritional Biology. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Nutrition at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Her professional interests include canine and feline obesity, nutritional management of renal disease, long-chain fatty acids and cancer nutrition. Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN completed her DVM degree at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and received a PhD in Nutrition from Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. After a residency in Clinical Nutrition, she was board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. She has been on faculty at Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine since 1996, where she is currently a Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences. Dr. Freeman teaches veterinary students about companion animal nutrition and cares for patients that require specialized nutrition for acute and chronic diseases. About the Authors Number 1, December 2012 Potential health concerns of feeding raw meat diets