Natural Pet Health

Tips for promoting food safety in pets

While pet owners often take extra precautions in the kitchen when preparing food for their own meals, it is likely that the same hygienic habits are overlooked when handling their dog or cat’s food.

Although the pet food scare of last year may have altered consumer pet food buying habits, it is likely that the knowledge of how to properly feed a pet its daily nutrition requirements is still inadequate — which can impact their overall health and well-being.

Many people think of their pets as “garbage disposals”, as many dogs and cats have the tendency to eat any leftover scraps or nibble on grass, plants, or other inappropriate snacks… therefore giving the false perspective that their stomachs are infallible to afflictions.

However, dogs and cats are just as susceptible to food borne illness as humans. Therefore, it is important to strongly consider and enforce the same measures of safety when buying, preparing, and storing their food and treats to help prevent bacterial infections.

For pets, many health problems can be harbored internally and symptoms may be disguised for quite some time, sometimes only surfacing once the problem has metastasized and too late.

Therefore, the importance of giving pets the same attention in the kitchen during mealtimes cannot be stressed enough. Food borne illnesses like Salmonella are just as prevalent in pet foods and treats, and contamination can even be spread to human foods — creating the possibility of a chain of ill health in the household!

While the FDA has increased its efforts to minimize the incidence of infection, there are still precautions to take. Remember, prevention is best, and maintaining pet health now can save time and money in the future!

1. When buying food, make sure that containers are in good condition, free of signs of package damage such as dents or tears
2. Thoroughly wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling
3. Wash pet food bowls, dishes, and scooping utensils with hot, soapy water after each use
4. Properly dispose of old food in a covered trash receptacle
5. Refrigerate at 40 degrees or throw away any leftover wet pet food
6. Store dry product in an airtight container in a cool, dry place under 80 degrees
7. Keep pets away from all food storage, preparation, and garbage areas

Also consider the pet’s diet. While some owners believe the “raw food diet” is the healthiest, the FDA actually advises against raw meat, poultry, or seafood for pets due to the increased chance of illness associated with raw foods. If choosing to feed this diet, consult with a vet first and follow the following tips to help ensure safety:

1. Raw meat and poultry products should be kept frozen until ready to use

2. Avoid thawing foods on the counter; do so in refrigerator or microwave

3. Separate raw foods from other foods, and be sure to thoroughly wash surfaces, utensils (including cutting boards, preparation and feeding bowls), hands, and any other items that touch or contact raw meat, poultry or seafood with hot soapy water immediately

4. Properly store and refrigerate leftovers immediately or discard safely

Unfortunately, even with the best attempts to provide good care, pets often encounter some disturbances… however; most common problems can be managed with at-home care. In addition, just increasing awareness of these preparation habits alone can go a long way in helping maintain pet health.

Related Products

For supporting digestive and overall health:

* Digestive Support – Herbal digestive tonic supports healthy digestion in pets
* Flatulence Preventer – Promote digestive health and reduce common gas and unpleasant smells
* Immunity and Liver Support – Herbal tonic to support healthy immune system and liver functioning
* Kidney Support – Support healthy kidney functioning
* LiverAid – Effective natural tonic for the liver and pancreas
* Natural Moves for Pets – Treat constipation and improve digestive health
* Parasite Dr. – Natural remedy to promote digestive health and integrity
* RunniPoo Relief Maintain healthy digestion and bowel functioning
* Parvo-K – Promote digestive harmony and fluid balance
* SlenderPet – Helps your pets stay within normal body weight & maintain healthy metabolism and efficient digestion
* DetoxPlus – Support the body’s natural ability to eliminate waste & toxins, and promote systemic health
* GlucoBalance – Natural pancreatic tonic keeps blood sugar & insulin levels within normal range

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Originally posted 2008-05-15 08:52:15. We hope you have enjoyed this Post From the Past!

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Tags: cat health, dog health, parvo, pet health, UTI