Quote: Betty Landercasp

Pets can get pretty sick from raw food, especially city pets who never see any real germs.
Factory farmed raw food can have salmonella, listeria, staph -- uncooked hamburger can have deadly e.coli--- and these agents can affect the human family too. There is a responsiblity for veterinarians to protect public health.
I'm hoping this is behind the policy statement.

I can't argue with this. But these are the same pathogens that are the cause of nearly weekly recalls from manufactured pet food. People are getting sick from handling bags of kibble. That is also a public health issue that doesn't seem to be of concern to anyone.

Every raw feeder (and anyone who cooks meat in their kitchen) knows to wash their hands after handling raw chicken.

But do kibble feeders treat their pet food with the same caution? It's sold and marketed to us as safe and sanitary. If the AVMA had public health as it's only interest they would be lobbying just as hard for warnings on bags of commercial pet food about the risks of bacteria and educating people to not allow thier children to touch it, and to wash their hands after handling the food or the bag. But I don't see that kind of thing happening.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I suspect that this is step one of a plan to guide/influence legislation that could be "a step-by-calculated-step plan to wipe out the small farms that produce meat specifically for raw dog food (rabbit meat, green tripe, etc., etc.) and the companies like Bravo, Steve's, and others that allow owners who are nervous about compiling their own dog's raw diet (or strapped for time) to purchase pre-made, balanced, fresh or frozen raw diets."

And I can think of many other barriers that legislation could through up in the way of raw feeders.

Look at Delta Society, which banned raw-fed therapy dogs. Delta Society receives financial support from Purina, and Delta Society has a Purina employee in its Medical Advisory Group.

BTW, Delta Society also urges its members not to feed raw to any dog who lives in the same house as the therapy dog.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

But these are the same pathogens that are the cause of nearly weekly recalls from manufactured pet food. People are getting sick from handling bags of kibble. That is also a public health issue that doesn't seem to be of concern to anyone.

Every raw feeder (and anyone who cooks meat in their kitchen) knows to wash their hands after handling raw chicken.

But do kibble feeders treat their pet food with the same caution? It's sold and marketed to us as safe and sanitary. If the AVMA had public health as it's only interest they would be lobbying just as hard for warnings on bags of commercial pet food about the risks of bacteria and educating people to not allow thier children to touch it, and to wash their hands after handling the food or the bag. But I don't see that kind of thing happening.

"People are getting sick from handling bags of kibble. .... If the AVMA had public health as it's only interest they would be lobbying just as hard for warnings on bags of commercial pet food about the risks of bacteria and educating people to not allow thier children to touch it, and to wash their hands after handling the food or the bag. "

Excellent point.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Tracy Collins

But these are the same pathogens that are the cause of nearly weekly recalls from manufactured pet food. People are getting sick from handling bags of kibble. That is also a public health issue that doesn't seem to be of concern to anyone.

Every raw feeder (and anyone who cooks meat in their kitchen) knows to wash their hands after handling raw chicken.

But do kibble feeders treat their pet food with the same caution? It's sold and marketed to us as safe and sanitary. If the AVMA had public health as it's only interest they would be lobbying just as hard for warnings on bags of commercial pet food about the risks of bacteria and educating people to not allow thier children to touch it, and to wash their hands after handling the food or the bag. But I don't see that kind of thing happening.

"People are getting sick from handling bags of kibble. .... If the AVMA had public health as it's only interest they would be lobbying just as hard for warnings on bags of commercial pet food about the risks of bacteria and educating people to not allow thier children to touch it, and to wash their hands after handling the food or the bag. "

Excellent point.

I second that, this is exactly why I am completely suspicious of this sudden need to inform the public. There have been a multitude of recalls on kibble recently, and no where does it mention one word about this at all.

The fact that the AVMA completely misses this very point, makes me completely distrust their motives.

That, and this:

http://www.avma.org/sponsors/hills.asp


"Hill's partnership with the veterinary profession is a hallmark of Hill's unique heritage."

"Hill's demonstrates its commitment to supporting future veterinarians through programs that provide financial aid and education in the field of clinical nutrition."

"The AVMA gratefully acknowledges the Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., whose generous contributions support {the} AVMA Annual Convention."

Hill's, of course, is the Hill's of Hill's® Science Diet®, makers of the food in the vet's waiting room.

In the interest of safety perhaps the AVMA should put forth a resolution that pets should not be fed commercial diets from companies that have had recalls due to bacterial contamination until they have independent auditing and testing in place to prevent those issues from happening in the future.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

That, and this:

http://www.avma.org/sponsors/hills.asp


"Hill's partnership with the veterinary profession is a hallmark of Hill's unique heritage."

"Hill's demonstrates its commitment to supporting future veterinarians through programs that provide financial aid and education in the field of clinical nutrition."

"The AVMA gratefully acknowledges the Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., whose generous contributions support {the} AVMA Annual Convention."

Hill's, of course, is the Hill's of Hill's® Science Diet®, makers of the food in the vet's waiting room.

Yep, quite the significant evidence for motivation....
I bet the actual $$$$$$$$$$ would be astounding.
Just figuring the numbers in my head.....
It is glaringly apparent the relationship that exists between these two.

 Quote: Joyce Salazar

Here we go! Tracy and everyone else who supports raw feeding, please take a moment to sign this petition.
It can't hurt and who knows? I hope it will help make a difference!


http://www.change.org/petitions/american-veterinary-medical-association-avma-protect-pet-owners-rights-to-feed-a-raw-meat-pet-food

Signed.

I liked this comment from a vet:

"As a veterinarian with almost 20 years experience feeding raw diet to my own dogs and counseling clients, I see the benefits to health it provides. And I see the damage done by commercial pets food. If AVMA is going to pass a resolution, it should be to encourage the development of nutritional information resources so that those choosing to feed a natural diet can be assisted in doing it correctly. Clearly this policy is showing AVMA is the puppet of the pet food industry, rather than the independent thinkers that veterinarians typically are."
(Italics and bold are mine)

Not the first comment I have seen from a vet disgusted by the AVMA.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

I suspect that this is step one of a plan to guide/influence legislation that could be "a step-by-calculated-step plan to wipe out the small farms that produce meat specifically for raw dog food (rabbit meat, green tripe, etc., etc.) and the companies like Bravo, Steve's, and others that allow owners who are nervous about compiling their own dog's raw diet (or strapped for time) to purchase pre-made, balanced, fresh or frozen raw diets."

And I can think of many other barriers that legislation could through up in the way of raw feeders.


Look at Delta Society, which banned raw-fed therapy dogs. Delta Society receives financial support from Purina, and Delta Society has a Purina employee in its Medical Advisory Group.

This is exactly what came to my mind when I started reading this thread!

I got Kasey 6 years ago, excited to train him to go into hospitals and do therapy dog work. I trained from day one for this end. When he was 2 I started looking into the different places I could get him certified. When I started learning that we were out of the running because he's raw fed, I was so disappointed.

Here in the city I live in, and surrounding communities, the hospitals either use Delta or they have their own program - which also excludes raw fed dogs. I would have to drive over 30 miles on the freeway in traffic (about 90 minutes one way) in order to get a hospital that would allow Kasey in the program. So here's beautifully trained, loving dog that would help so many people, and he's grounded.

This is exactly the bad that will come out of any recommendation that the AVMA would make against feeding raw, because organizations like hospitals, therapy groups, etc. will listen to them and decide it's too risky. Ugh

I signed the petition too. That's crazy. Totally fueled a side of me that really could care less about what people think about what I feed my dogs.

In fact I don't usually talk about it because of the questions and judgmental comments. But I'm going to be a lot more proactive about it now.

I agree, if it wasn't for the profit margins (or failing ones) and big corporate relationships they wouldn't (and don’t) give a rat's pettutie what I feed my dog.

You know, it's 10 minutes of my dogs’ lives, twice a day. It enriches their well being and quality of life. It gives me peace of mind knowing exactly what they're consuming. They get the nutrients their bodies actually need. How dare they try and dictate that away from folks.

Germs, well they better stay out of public bathrooms and watch which restaurants they're eating in. Food safety is a given, right from slaughter to proper handling in your home, whether it's going in the dog’s bowl or on our plates.

They need to keep their noses out of my dog food bowls and go clean up their own bedrooms. That's pretty slimy.