Evaluation of two raw diets vs a commercial cooked diet on feline growth

Abstract

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine if two raw feline diets were nutritionally adequate for kittens. Methods Twenty-four 9-week-old kittens underwent an Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) 10 week growth feeding trial with two raw diet groups and one cooked diet group (eight kittens in each). Morphometric measurements (weight, height and length), complete blood counts, serum chemistry, whole blood taurine and fecal cultures were evaluated. Results Overall, the growth parameters were similar for all diet groups, indicating the two raw diets used in this study supported feline growth, within the limitations of an AAFCO growth feeding trial. Kittens fed the raw diets had lower albumin ( P = 0.010) and higher globulin ( P = 0.04) levels than the kittens fed the cooked diet. These lower albumin levels were not clinically significant, as all groups were still within normal age reference intervals. A red cell microcytosis ( P = 0.001) was noted in the combination raw diet group. Increases in fecal Clostridium perfringens were noted in all groups, along with positive fecal Salmonella serovar Heidelberg and Clostridium difficile toxin in the combination raw diet group. Conclusions and relevance The majority of the parameters for feline growth were similar among all groups, indicating the two raw diets studied passed an AAFCO growth trial. In theory, it is possible to pass an AAFCO growth trial but still have nutrient deficiencies in the long term due to liver and fat storage depots. Some of the raw feeders had elevated globulin and microcytosis, likely associated with known enteropathogenic exposure. Disease risks to both pets and owners are obvious. Additional research in this area is needed to investigate the impact of raw diets on the health of domestic cats.

Fecal shedding of Salmonella spp., Clostridium perfringens, and Clostridioides difficile in dogs fed raw meat-based diets in Brazil and their owners’ motivation

“…Nevertheless, the two toxigenic C. difficile strains isolated in the present study were recovered from dogs fed RMBD (Table 1). Our results differ from that of a study in kittens, which reported that C. difficile toxins were more likely to be detected in cats from the raw diet group [64]. Another recent study also showed a significant decrease in the C. difficile isolation rate in dogs and cats when fed with dry food [65].…”

Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards

“…Another cat‐feeding trial compared a commercial raw diet, a supplemented raw chicken diet and a tinned diet (Hamper et al ). Kittens of sequential litters from the same two parents grew similarly on any of the diets, clinical pathology analyses showed minor variations, and diarrhoea was encountered with both raw and cooked diets.…”

How to talk to clients about giving raw food diets to their dogs and cats

“…Indeed, owners may resort to raw feeding following unhappy experiences with conventional foods that are marketed as ‘hypoallergenic', but that are formulated without sufficient or appropriate source restrictions. The two peer‐reviewed studies in this field that performed prospective comparisons of stool consistency did not show significant differences in the incidence of episodic diarrhoea among dogs or kittens fed raw diets v processed diets (Lefebvre and others 2008, Hamper and others 2017).…”