Nutrient analysis and microbiological examination of commercial raw foods and treats prepared for cats and dogs

In recent studies, while no concrete data have been obtained to prove the benefits of raw foods, there are concerns about the risks that raw foods may pose. The risks of raw foods include pathogenic microorganisms and nutrient imbalances. In our study, microbiological analyses and nutrient determinations of 25 cat and dog raw foods were performed. In addition, sugar and nutrient analyses of 25 treats were performed to investigate the effects of treats on animal health. Salmonella spp. was detected in 28%, E.coli in 72% and Listeria monocytogenes in 4% of the raw foods. As a result of the nutrient analysis of the raw foods, it was seen that 70% of the dog foods did not meet the phosphorus recommended by AAFCO and FEDIAF in puppy foods, and 80% of the cat foods did not meet the phosphorus recommended by AAFCO, FEDIAF, NRC in kitten foods. As a result of calcium analysis, it was found that 80% of cat foods and 95% of dog foods did not meet the calcium recommended by AAFCO, FEDIAF in kitten and adult cat and dog foods. As a result of fatty acid analysis of raw foods, it was found that 40% of the foods did not contain EPA, while linoleic acid was not detected in 1 of the foods.Protein levels of the treats were between 6-62%, fat levels were between 0.2-18% and cellulose levels were between 0.2-5%. Total sugars in cat treats were 0,352%, while total sugars in dog treats were 0,225%.With the findings obtained in our study, it was concluded that raw foods may pose a risk to human and animal health, label declarations of both treats and raw foods may not be accurate, and raw foods with nutrient imbalances may cause metabolic and orthopedic disorders in cats and dogs.