It’s probably no secret that you love your furry friends and therefore want to do everything in your power to protect them. Therefore, it’s hard to think that an act such as feeding, which helps keep your pet healthy, could potentially be harmful. Pet food contamination is not something dog and cat owners often think about, but it is very critical to understand the main causes of pet food poisoning, how to tell if your dog food is spoiled and how to prevent it!
Food poisoning in our pets is a bit different than what we expect with people. As with people, it isn't a specific illness, but rather a category of illnesses contracted form eating "bad" foods. Due to their evolution eating raw meat and carrion (before they discovered we had couches!), our pets are generally less sensitive to foodborne illnesses than people. However, they can still get sick from food in ways that present with what we generally consider "food poisoning".
Garbage in, garbage out
Dogs can experience gastrointestinal (GI) issues from eating indiscriminately. "Garbage Gut" refers to diarrhea and/or vomiting resulting from eating food items your pet isn't used to, such as rich table scraps, kitchen garbage, or whatever other feast it might mischievously get into. Such episodes generally result in signs that occur soon after the episode, as the body tries to expel that which didn't agree with it. Most episodes are not dangerous if vomiting and diarrhea are the only signs and the pet is able to keep water down.
If your adult pet has diarrhea and/or vomiting and no other symptoms, it is advisable to provide a bland diet for 24-48 hours to give his system a chance to recover.
Despite debate about whether dogs can eat raw poultry, this is definitely not the time to allow it, as it is more difficult to digest and the already-compromised GI tract is much more susceptible to bacteria in raw meat than a healthy gut. Once you see an improvement in the symptoms, you can slowly start to reintroduce the normal diet.
Keep in mind that depending on the contents of the garbage, it's important to watch for signs of illness in the following days as well, because some garbage contents can cause additional serious problems. High fat foods can cause bouts of pancreatitis, a potentially fatal illness. Also, obstruction is possible from some garbage contents such as corn cobs that can be quickly swallowed but have a hard time moving through the stomach opening to the intestines or through the twisty intestine itself.
Also, just because dogs have "stronger" stomachs than we do doesn't mean they can be a catch-all when you're cleaning expired items out of your refrigerator. Although they don’t get sick as frequently, this doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen at all. It is still possible for them to get sick, particularly when the amount of bacteria in the item is high, which can occur as food spoils.
Also, consuming some molds on food can cause serious neurological reactions in both people and pets. Of course, if you know your dog got into rancid food, watch him carefully over the next day or two. Diarrhea or vomiting in such situations is often self-limiting, but if blood is seen in the stool or your pet is unable to keep water down, you should consult a veterinarian quickly.
Feline friends
This advice on feeding and food poisoning applies to both adult dogs and adult cats. But our feline friends tend to be a lot more discriminating than your average Labrador with their consumption, both in type and quantity. Therefore, the vast majority of "food poisoning" episodes occur in dogs. Kitties are generally more prone to chronic (long term) vomiting without an obvious tie to food intake. Chronic vomiting can be signs of general GI or metabolic disease and should be worked up by a veterinarian.
Young animals
Just like human babies and children, younger pets have not been exposed to the common pathogens in their environments yet, so their immune systems are just learning what germs are out there to fight. During this time, puppies and kittens are more susceptible to illnesses that probably would not cause illness in an adult. Salmonella and E. coli are two examples of foodborne bacteria that can make baby animals very sick. Additionally, a number of viruses can present with GI (gastrointestinal) signs and be very serious for your new pet. Babies lack the reserves to handle vomiting or diarrhea for long and may need more supportive care, such as IV fluids, to get through such illnesses. Therefore, puppies and kittens with vomiting or diarrhea should see the veterinarian immediately no matter what cause is suspected.
Main Causes of Pet Food Contamination
So what actually causes pet food to spoil? The first culprit is air. When food is exposed to air for a prolonged period, harmful bacteria can easily form and develop quickly. Therefore, make sure food is properly stored. Excess moisture in your environment can be another catalyst for pet food contamination as it can cause mold. Also when food is stored in warm or hot temperatures, the food is likely to spoil.
How to tell if your dog food is contaminated or spoiled
If you suspect your pup or cat has eaten some contaminated pet food, here is how you can check.
- Look for moisture, mold or bugs in the food.
- Smell the food and check for a rancid or sour odor.
- Check the expiry date on the item.
- Ask yourself if the food has been exposed to heat or humidity.
- Pay attention to see if your pet is refusing to eat or if they show signs of cat or dog food poisoning symptoms, or discomfort after eating.
How to keep your pets safe from pet food poisoning and contamination
- When purchasing pet food, make sure there is no visible damage to the packaging and that no seals have been broken.
- Make a habit of washing your pet’s food and water bowls! If your dog eats dry food, bowls should be washed once a day. For dogs that consume wet or raw food, wash their bowls after every meal.
- Promptly refrigerate or compost leftover wet dog food.
- Wash your hands before and after handling raw meat or eggs.
- Clean areas used to prepare food immediately after use.
- Keep food in the bag or can that it comes in.
- Ensure food is sealed and stored in a cool location.
- Pay attention to the expiration dates on packages.
