Feeding Raw? Please Read! - Page 1

A new study shows that the main cause of bladder infections in humans is the same strain of E. coli found in raw chicken produced by factory-type poultry farms.

Due to all the antibiotics used in factory farming, this particular strain is resistant to most antibiotics.

Chicken produced by organic farms has a much lower level of E. coli. [DUH!]

PLEASE USE EXTREME CARE when handling raw chicken!

I know most of you raw feeders are aware of this, but it never hurts to be reminded.  E. coli infections can be deadly, especially for the very young, the very old, and those with weakened immune systems. 

http://ca.shine.yahoo.com/chicken-really-grocery-list-170000160.html 





 http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/walkerton/ 

I use the same care when feeding my dogs raw chicken as I do when preparing a chicken dish for a meal.  If you cook hamburgers, sausage, fish or any raw meat you need to use safe handling skills.  Feeding raw to a dog is no more dangerous than cooking a meal for your family and starting with raw meat.  Keep in mind plenty of people get sick from lettuce and other vegetables when not handled and prepared properly.  E. coli has also been found in dry dog food.  Common sense (the least common of the senses) goes a long way. 

The proper way to handle raw meat when preparing a meal for human consumption or to be fed to a dog is the same.  Clean all work surfaces the meat has touched.  Wash your hands after handling any raw food.  If you are cutting a chicken, wash your hands before grabbing the salt or spices.  If you use one utensil to place raw meat on the stove or grill, do not use the same utensil to remove the cooked food.  You must wash the utensils before touching the cooked meat with them.  For example, if you use a spatula to place burgers on the grill, that same spatula can not be used to "flip" the burgers.  It must be cleaned before using on the cooked meat or get a clean spatula.  If it touched raw, it should not be used on cooked meat unless cleaned.  It really is very simple. 

I jsut wanted to add that I think the article goes a bit over the top in suggesting you not even buy chicken due to the risk of your family getting sick. I don't think there's any difference in the factory farmed chicken you buy now compared to what was available 20 or 30 years ago, except the bacteria has probably become even MORE resistant to antibiotics over the years.

The common sense precautions Jim has outlined above should be sufficient to keep you safe.

Of course, you can always buy organically raised chicken, if you can afford it. But unless you can actually visit the farm it comes from, you still don't know exactly how the birds were raised. Free-range birds are often raised in large buildings, and may never even get to see the sun. Plus they have to undergo the stress of being caught and packed in crates for shipping. My country cousins used to do this job, and it damn sure isn't cruelty free! Many birds suffer broken limbs or other injuries. while being caught.

Thanks for the info!
I stopped feeding any kind of chicken (not raw, not cooked, not in dry food, not even chicken fat) to my dogs some time ago. Don't think that commercially available chicken is good for anyone.

My two dogs go through about 120 lbs of raw food, which includes 70 to 80 lbs of chicken quarters per month.  They also get beef liver, tripe, chopped sirloin (hamburger meat), eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, venison and other meat.  Raw chicken quarters is the bulk of their diet.  Chicken is an excellent muscle building protein.  I haven't found a better substitute. 

Slam, what are the weights of both dogs and how much do you feed them per day?

I wonder if the strain found is the same strain that caused UTI's in women 20 years ago.  Here is the deal.  If you eat meat, it must be handled properly and cooked thoroughly.  Thorough cooking (for humans) kills E coli.  So.. in those 80% of women found to have a specific strain of E Coli common to chickens it would seem they must have been eating the chicken raw?  OR the bacteria of the human gut is the same strain as in the chickens?  See my point???   

I checked the sites briefly.. because I often read this stuff and it is supported by Animal Rights people who would have us, and our dogs, become vegan...

I did not see any of that in the sites proffered or links in those sites. 

If you feed RAW handle the food properly and cleanly.  If you are concerned about E Coli and other bacteria in the food then don't feed RAW....

Rass, the bacteria that cause bladder infections come from the outside. That's why women get more of them than men do, because their urethra is shorter, and therefore it's easier for the bacteria to gain entrance. Likely these infections are due to poor handwashing or sanitation of counters, etc. after handling chicken, then going to the toilet to urinate. Alternately, the bacteria may be making their way through the digestive tract, then are transferred from the anus to the urethra after defecating.

Them's the bare facts, folks, and as a former nurse, I'm not shy about talking about this stuff. Your mom had it right: makes SURE you wipe from front to back, AND wash your hands!  If you've been handling raw chicken, it might not be such a bad idea to wash your hands BEFORE going to the toilet, as well as after! 

Ace, one dog is a 13 year old female GSD she eats about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lbs per day. She weighs around 62 - 65lbs. Boomer eats between 2 1/2 to 3 lbs per day. He will be 6 next week and I guess he weighs between 82 and 86 lbs. I don't weigh my dogs, so I am not too sure. Both dogs are in great shape and Boomer is solid muscle.

Thanks. Lets me know I need to feed more and mix it up some. I feed primarily raw be ground up beef and chicken. I usually feed chicken leg quarters 2x a week since it seemed like it was more bone than meat. I just found chicken leg quarters for .85/lb which seems decent.