Hi, I had to take Roscoe to the vet for hives yesterday he was tearing himself up itching so bad. As this was the first time for this vet he asked what I was feeding. He told me that I could not feed grocery store bought chicken because of the risk of salmonella. He said that we could not eat raw chicken so neither could he. He said that if I insisted on feeding raw that I should look for a source other than from a grocery store, something especially for eating raw. He said that the way the chickens were killed and processed for grocery chains did not ensure enough against the disease. Any opinions on his thoughts? Also because of my job situation I have only been feeding him leq quarters and vit E and fish oil. Should I try to give him something else or will he be okay until my finances turn around? Thanks for your help. Ron

Bunk.

Dogs can get salmonella, but the chances are so slim it is not worth thinking about.

Saying that since we couldn't eat raw chicken a dog can't either is like comparing honey glazed ham to Twinkies.

A dogs digestive tract is short so salmonella or any other bacteria is only there for a minimal amount of time. On top of that, the pH of a dog's stomach makes it inhospitable for salmonella and many other types of bacteria.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with feeding store bought chicken.

My dog has been eating grocery store chicken for a long time and hasn't gotten salmonella from it.

Dogs have a completely different digestive system than humans do. It's precisely why they CAN safely eat a raw diet and we can't.

Now, a waaayyyyyyyyy more likely scenario of your dog being made sick from salmonella is from tainted kibble.

It takes a lot longer time to digest than raw. This extra time in the stomach raises the pH level to a point that IS hospitable to salmonella.

I fed all 3 of my dogs raw and have for quite awhile, never a problem with salmonella and I get my chicken from the store. I live in a small town and my options are limited where I can buy. Plus I am single and need to watch my finances. There is a walmart in a town about an hour away so that is where I usually go for cheap chicken. You can usually get pork neck bones cheap along with packs of chicken gizzards and hearts and if you have a dollar general store or something like that you can usually find canned makarel and canned sardines for a buck or under which would put alittle diversity in what you are feeding (and not break the bank) Also, you could check out any butchers in your area to see what you could get-I live where theres alot of hunters and this year I got deer and elk meat scraps from people that knew I feed raw which was great!!
Sounds like your vet doesnt know what hes talking about and most dont when it comes to raw feeding-dogs digestive systems are completly different than humans thats why they can eat poop and even rotten dead things and be fine I would take his advice with a grain of salt. Did he say why Roscoe was itching and had hives?

" He said that we could not eat raw chicken so neither could he. "

We are not dogs(!) with their super-caustic stomach acid and, as mentioned, short system that doesn't give pathogens the colonizing opportunities that they have in our loooooong digestive systems.


However, leg quarters and fish oil are not really a balanced diet. I'd add a little organ meat, another protein source, maybe some plain yogurt, cheap canned no-salt-added fish, and a little produce, none of which cost more than leg quarters.

What did this vet say about the hives/itching? (New thread,
please -- different title. )

Wow...

I can't chew up a deer carcass, either.


Someone should tell that to the wolves- they might be endangering themselves!


Most Vets are idiots when it comes to canine nutrition.
You're doing fine.


So, besides bashing your very wise decision to feed a species-appropriate diet, what did your Vet do to actually HELP your dog?

(On another thread, as Connie suggested)

 Quote: ronald friesen

He said that if I insisted on feeding raw that I should look for a source other than from a grocery store, something especially for eating raw. He said that the way the chickens were killed and processed for grocery chains did not ensure enough against the disease.

Huh. Most of the "special" raw dog diet chicken providers I know of get their meat from the same poultry farms that supply groceries and butchers!

Don't buy it Ronald. This vet doesn't sound like he knows dirt about raw feeding, or much about the food HE'S eating for that matter! Where do they even come up with this stuff??

My dog has safely been eating grocery store meat (chicken, beef, pork, lamb, etc.) for YEARS. That meat is safe enough for me to eat if I chose to, but I'd have to cook it - my dog, on the other hand, can eat it raw because the same digestive system that allows him to eat week old roadkill, or moldy garbage, or drink out of rancid puddles without getting sick ALSO allows him to eat grocery store meat raw without getting sick. It's truly a magical ability.

 Quote: ronald friesen

Also because of my job situation I have only been feeding him leq quarters and vit E and fish oil. Should I try to give him something else or will he be okay until my finances turn around? Thanks for your help. Ron

This situation is not ideal, but it will do if it's only temporary. As soon as you can you should begin to add other protein sources (like beef, pork, lamb, SOME types of fish, etc.) and organ meat is a biggie as well (liver, kidney, green tripe, etc.). There are guidelines in the raw feeding articles on this site for how much organ meat to include in your meals - I think it's something like 10 - 15%.

Do you have access to any real "butchers" - not the grocery store kind? You can often get better deals at butchers on things like chicken backs (which people really only make soup out of, so it's cheap stuff), and my butcher sells chicken livers cheaper than the grocery store as well. Butchers can also sell to you in bulk, which could make things additionally cheaper.

Good luck!

~Natalya

*Sorry to be redundant with a lot of that - I'm sure slow at the keyboard today!

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

However, leg quarters and fish oil are not really a balanced diet. I'd add a little organ meat, another protein source, maybe some plain yogurt, cheap canned no-salt-added fish, and a little produce, none of which cost more than leg quarters.

 Quote: Natalya Zahn

As soon as you can you should begin to add other protein sources (like beef, pork, lamb, SOME types of fish, etc.) and organ meat is a biggie as well (liver, kidney, green tripe, etc.).

DITTO, DITTO!

http://www.mountaindogfood.com/HealthCare/Salmonella.pdf

I don't know anything about this raw food company, so don't take this as a positive reference for them, but their article covers salmonella and raw feeding pretty well, IMO.

Might email this article to your vet. I'd be interested in what he has to say.