Avaliação da introdução de carne bovina crua na alimentação de cães saudáveis

Abstract

There is a tendency to seek more natural habits on the part of the population and this tendency includes the feeding practices for their pets; in this case, raw meat foods represent the natural alternative for dogs and cats. The present study proposed to evaluate the potential risks and benefits of raw meat intake as part of the dog diet. Twelve dogs, six (6) of commercial kennel and six (6) of kennel-shelter, were evaluated through clinical examination, hematological, biochemical and parasitological analyzes before and after dietary intervention for 15 days with supplementation of 20% of daily intake with fresh ground meat. Samples of raw beef from different commercial establishments in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador, Bahia, as well as meat supplied to dogs, were analyzed by microbiology for bacterial contamination investigation using standard methods for the investigation of aerobic mesophiles, coliforms and Salmonella sp . At the end of the course of consumption of raw meat, the studied dogs presented increased erythrocyte count (p <0.05), globular volume (p <0.05) and hemoglobin (p <0.05), without evidence of infection or disease in clinical parameters, leukogram, serum biochemistry and parasitological tests. The investigation and quantification of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms indicated that 75% of the meat samples evaluated had a count higher than 105 CFU, 92% of the samples contained enterobacteria, including E. coli, although all were fit for consumption according to the current legislation. None of the samples contained Salmonella spp. The present study showed that the ingestion of raw beef brought benefits evidenced in the hematological parameters of the dogs, and that the samples of meat commercialized in the market of Salvador presented characteristics acceptable for the in natura consumption by healthy dogs. These results open perspectives for new studies on nutritional aspects and canine health associated with feeding with raw beef.