Microbiological Analysis of Commercial Raw Meat-Based Diets for Dogs

Objective: Assess the sanitary quality of the commercial B.A.R.F diets to which they have access in the city Medellín (Colombia), performing microbiological evaluations through bacterial and fungal crops in a representative sample of diets based on raw meat for dogs. Materials and Methods: 84 cultures were performed in 12 commercial RMDB or BARF diets, and were evaluated these parameters: growth of Salmonella spp, Clostridium spp, E. coli, total and fecal coliforms, aerobic mesophiles, fungi and yeasts. Results: There was growth of the listed microorganisms: molds (50%), yeasts (83%), aerobic mesophiles (83%), total coliforms (83%), E coli (17%), Clostridium perfringens (8%), there was no Salmonella spp growth in any of the tested diets. Conclusions: It was demonstrated the pathogen potential and possibly zoonotic of BARF diets, veterinarians and pet owners must know these results, in order to decide with real criterion if recommend or feed these diets to their pets.