With the popularization of scientific pet knowledge, more and more pet parents choose raw meat as the long-term staple food of hairy children.
Raw meat and fresh nutrition, adequate moisture, very low carbon water, economical, can be zui to a large extent close to the natural diet of cats and dogs, almost in all aspects of the commercial pet food.
The most criticized is nothing more than the pathogen/parasite hazard of raw meat.
But families who have been feeding raw meat for a long time know that as long as the purchase channels are closed, the raw meat is properly stored and handled, and the pets are regularly dewormed, there is almost no need to worry about the safety of raw meat.
Today, the group leader will teach everyone how to ensure the safety of the pet's raw meat diet to the greatest extent from the following six aspects, so that the hair children can eat healthy and healthy, clear and clear.
1. Do you need to worry about the parasites/germs of raw meat?
Second, what kind of meat is prone to parasites/germs
3. How to choose fresh raw meat?
Fourth, how to scientifically preserve and process raw meat?
5. What should I do if I have gastrointestinal problems when eating raw food?
Sixth, how to change food scientifically
How to ensure the nutritional balance of homemade rice is not described in this article, you can refer to the article shared by the group leader before:
How to make cat meals for cats, how to ensure balanced nutrition?
1. Do I need to worry about parasites/pathogens of raw meat?
There is a need to be careful, but there is no need to panic for the following reasons:
Cats are infected with parasites, usually ingested into the intestines/feces of animals, and domestic cats are difficult to reach;
Common parasites/germs do not pose a significant threat to pets;
raw meat of reliable origin, free of rare parasites or bacteria sufficient to cause disease;
Most common parasites can be completely killed by freezing for several days;
Inferior meat that is not fresh can be easily distinguished by the naked eye and smell.
Next, let's talk in detail, the so-called parasites/germs, is it really so terrible?
1, parasites
Let's start with parasites. If your raw meat comes from irregular sources, you may encounter these parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, meat sporangia, tapeworm vesicles, tapeworms, trichinella, etc.
# Toxoplasma gondii
The toxoplasma that everyone cares about most is the least to worry about. Ordinary household refrigerator -18 °C, 3 days of freezing can make toxoplasma gondii oocyst inactivated; -20 °C, frozen for more than 2 days is also OK. Secondly, cats infected with Toxoplasma gondii are not good, still eat, drink and sleep, and the eggs are released in about two weeks.
With the change of modern people's eating habits, the infection rate of human toxoplasma gondii also continues to rise, fresh fruits and vegetables may also have toxoplasmosis eggs, those who are worried about infecting toxoplasma gondii from cats, it is better to pay more attention to personal dietary hygiene such as drinking water, vegetables and fruits.
If you want to rub toxoplasma gondii from the cat, the premise is that your cat is infected with toxoplasma, and you have to pinch the time to eat the feces containing toxoplasmosis eggs pulled out by the cat.
Thankfully, this parasitic infection can be immune for life, if it is not pregnant, infection is also a good thing, and there is no need to worry about it in the future.
# Mycosporidium
Infections in cats are rare, you will hardly touch them, and freeze them at -5°C for a few days to eliminate them.
# Tapeworms in the bubble band
Extremely rare, Almost extinct in Europe and the United States, there is no data in China, generally parasitic in the liver and large intestine of pigs, cattle and sheep, really worried, buy regular channels of frozen cattle, sheep and pig liver can be effectively prevented, or usually take poultry liver as the main source of liver. Don't feed all kinds of intestines.
# Tapeworm
Infection with cats is rare and the host is usually sheep. Buying frozen lamb or fresh lamb from regular channels - frozen at 10 ° C for about a week can be prevented.
# Bean tapeworm
Infection with cats is rare, mainly in dogs. This tapeworm is mainly from hares and infects its liver and intestinal membranes. However, what we can buy is generally industrially bred rabbits, not free-range, and it is rare to be infected with this parasite.
If you are unfortunate enough to buy raw rabbit meat containing bean-like tapeworm, the naked eye can clearly see the liver, abdominal cavity site with bumps and white spots, but because the signs of infection are too obvious, the general merchant will not sell it.
# Trichinella
Emmm This parasite is more dangerous, the distribution is also more extensive, generally parasitic on pigs, the good news is that the thickness of pork below 25cm, -25 °C freezing for half a month can basically eliminate the hidden danger of trichinella.
Other parasites are rare, or because the host is not a cat, or does not appear in the common raw flesh and bone material, I will not repeat them all.
2. Bacteria
There's no doubt that there are all kinds of bacteria in raw meat, but are these bacteria really scary enough to make pets sick or dead?
Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria, Vibrio, Clostridium, etc., are common bacteria in raw meat, but they also exist in pets and people, do not affect our daily lives, in a certain measure of even beneficial, such as E. coli is a neutral bacteria, in normal conditions for health benefits, once the proliferation is out of control, or transferred from the intestine to other parts of the body, it may cause inflammation.
So how much of these bacteria do they have to be enough to cause disease? Unfortunately, there is no standard answer, complex individual differences mean specific analysis of specific problems, in which the immunity of individuals plays a decisive role, may be the same number of bacteria, some people do not respond, some people will get sick, the same for cats and dogs.
So far, there have been no cases of pets infected with the above bacteria caused by disease or death due to raw food, but more cases have come from the intake of commercial pet food of substandard quality.
Fungi such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria can generally be killed by high temperatures, but there are also tenacious pathogens that can survive in various high-temperature and high-pressure environments.
We can often see commercial pet food recalled because it has been detected to have bacterial residues, because even puffed grain or canned food that has been treated with high temperature and pressure can not be 100% guaranteed to have no bacterial residue, on the contrary, puffed food is the most likely to breed bacteria, and being recalled shows that the amount is large enough to cause disease.
3. Bacterial toxins
Here the group leader wants to supplement the science of bacterial toxins. What is a bacterial toxin?
We know that bacteria are also a kind of microorganisms, they like to multiply and grow in raw meat, in this process bacteria will secrete toxic metabolites, that is, bacterial toxins, with strong neurotoxicity, long-term high temperature and high pressure can not be killed, long-term intake, will cause damage to the liver and brain of pets.
What kind of meat is prone to bacterial toxins?
Spoiled/spoiled meat, sick/dying/violent/disabled livestock meat. Again, if you control the purchase channels, you can effectively prevent such toxins.
Second, what meat is prone to parasites/germs/bacterial toxins?
Meat, of course, from informal breeding establishments. These site documents are incomplete, the environment is poor, long-term feeding of inferior feed, there is no regular quarantine of animals, it is more likely to appear group disease or infection with parasites, sick, dying, violent death, disabled livestock appear in piles...
Informal farming also involves irregular slaughtering, storage, and transportation operations, resulting in meat being more susceptible to a large number of bacteria and producing bacterial toxins.
For example, E. coli, which is commonly found in raw beef. E. coli itself does not make cattle sick, but if a cow carries E. coli in its large intestine and accidentally cuts the large intestine during slaughter, E. coli will contaminate the meat of other parts.
For example, there is no strict control of temperature during transportation, and raw meat is repeatedly thawed and quick-frozen, resulting in nutrient deterioration, loss, and uncontrolled bacterial reproduction; or mixed storage and transportation of meat in different parts and varieties, not well sealed and isolated, and it is easy to lead to cross-infection of bacteria and so on.
So! Buy raw meat must choose a formal channel, ah, the bacteria in the cradle!
The regular breeding base even has monitoring
Third, how to choose a safe and reliable raw meat?
1. Choose a regular channel (online + offline)
As mentioned above, regular meat sales channels mean more hygienic raw meat handling processes, including farming methods, slaughter methods, transportation/storage methods, etc.
Choose a variety of raw meat sales channels with complete documents, qualifications and reputation: such as large supermarkets, brand online stores, and large farmers' markets. Avoid buying meat from unlicensed vendors.
The most direct is to a certain Hui, a Huadu, a large chain brand supermarket, this kind of supermarket shelves of raw meat can generally ensure the safety of source, transportation and storage, can provide the batch of meat sold "animal quarantine certificate", "meat factory inspection certificate" and "listing certificate" and other certificates.
Large breeding bases that supply these chain brands are usually subject to stricter government supervision and approval, and for their own brand image and economic benefits, they will try to ensure that the quarantine procedures in the livestock breeding process (parasite and bacterial quarantine are basic standards) ensure that the meat flowing into the market is fresh and hygienic.
If you want to buy fish, you can also go to the local regular seafood market, freshly salvaged and killed to avoid secondary pollution in transportation and storage.
Of course, people like the group leader who do not like to go out to buy vegetables can also choose online shopping.
Meat purchased online is generally frozen fresh meat. Do you think frozen meat is bad? Wrong, the frozen meat of brand breeding institutions is cleaner and more nutritious than the hot fresh meat sold fresh on the day of the market.
From feeding, slaughtering, processing to transportation, these meats undergo a series of strict tests, maintain low temperature operation, greatly reduce the initial number of bacteria, and prevent the deterioration and loss of nutrients in the meat at room temperature.
In a way, the quality of regular frozen meat is better than that of fresh hot meat.
The cut meat is placed in a freezer below minus 18ºC
So which meat brands are worth referencing?
Of course, it is a Chinese and foreign brand recognized by the state, and the more famous ones are Yuansheng Food (beef), Wen's Food (pig/chicken/pigeon), Chia Tai Food (pig shrimp duck chicken), Shengnong Food (chicken side pieces), Jin Gong Fresh (chicken pork), etc., these brands have flagship stores in a certain East Treasure.
For example, rabbits, donkeys, quail, fish shellfish, etc. can go to brand supermarkets or large local farmers' markets, generally for sale, looking for a fully documented physical store to buy instead of mobile vendors.
Quail sold in fresh supermarkets, clean and hygienic
Such as deer, horses and other special meat can be bought imported, after all, China's characteristic edible meat breeding is not particularly standardized (I heard that it is cheaper than domestic?). ）。
In short, to judge whether a store's products are reliable, or to do some homework, check the relevant qualifications and market reputation, the preferred nationally recognized brand, and the supervision of all aspects will be more in place; and then look at whether the product detail page is generous to post relevant test reports and certificates, as well as buyer shows and reviews.
China's animal husbandry is indeed inferior to That of European and American countries, but the quality of frozen fresh products is still good, and the prices are quite conscientious, and they will not sit on the ground because they are large enterprises.
2, buy whole meat do not buy minced meat
Many pet parents will directly buy processed minced meat or meat puree for convenience when doing raw and cooked homemade, but in fact, minced meat is more likely to be stuffed with fresh meat by traders! The meat is all chopped up, can you tell if the meat is new or not? You don't even know what meat is in it.
In order to avoid mao children accidentally ingesting not fresh meat or allergens, it is safer to buy whole pieces of fresh meat.
3. How to judge whether the meat is new or not?
▼ Fresh meat (fully satisfied to feed)
The flesh is firm, full and rosy
Press the meat with your hand and the meat will bounce back quickly
No obvious odor
▼Meat that is not fresh (it is not recommended to feed any of them)
The flesh is loose and the surface is sticky
Press the meat with your hand, and the meat rebounds slowly or without
There is a noticeable color difference between the surface meat and the inner layer of meat
The color is dark red, the skin of the flesh is dry and hard, and it may have been left for a long time
There is a pronounced odor
▼ Fish
Fresh fish: the gills are bright red, the eyes are full and clear, the flesh is firm and elastic, and the pressure can quickly rebound;
Not fresh fish: the gills of the fish are dark red or even black, the eyes are cloudy or even collapsed, the flesh is soft and cottony, and there is a distinct fishy odor.
▼ Shrimp
Fresh shrimp: the surface is dry and shiny, the shrimp head and body are closely connected, the shrimp meat and the shrimp shell are closely connected, and the meat is full and elastic;
Shrimp that is not fresh: the surface secretion of mucus is very wet and slippery, the connection between the head and the body is loose, there is a gap between the shrimp meat and the shrimp shell, and the meat is soft and inelastic.
▼ Shellfish
Fresh shellfish: placed in the water shell slightly stretched, leaving the water shell immediately closed, the shell is complete, soaked in the water will bubble up;
Shellfish that are not fresh: the shell is still open and cannot be closed after leaving the water; the shell is not fresh;
If it is frozen shellfish: the meat is firm and full after de-icing, with a faint fishy taste; if it is not fresh or repeatedly thawed, the meat is soft and cottony after de-icing, the meat surface is viscous, and the fishy taste is too heavy.
Fourth, how to save/handle raw meat
1. Save
Most parasites that cats may be infected with can be killed by deworming drugs or cryogenic temperatures.
According to the cook's article, the group leader simply sorted out the table of common parasites and corresponding inactivation temperatures, which you can collect and refer to at any time.
2. Raw meat processing
Handle raw meat with disposable rubber gloves;
Prepare a set of cutting raw meat cutting boards, knives, dishes, etc. separately to prevent cross-infection;
Raw meat is frozen according to the amount of food eaten by the cat per meal, how much to eat and how much to thaw, to avoid repeated thawing and loss of nutrients;
Frozen meat put in the refrigerator one night in advance to keep fresh and thawed, can not be directly soaked in water to thaw, at least to seal the plastic bag to prevent nutrient loss;
Eat as soon as possible after thawing (within half an hour) to prevent meat from spoiling or growing bacteria;
Tools that have come into contact with raw meat must be cleaned and disinfected in time;
Be sure to wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer after handling raw meat.
5. Cats eat raw flesh and bones to vomit/strain?
This can be due to the following reasons:
Changing food too quickly
Intestinal bacterial disorders
The food was too cold
Feed too often
Feed too much at once
Cats that are accustomed to eating traditional commercial pet food, especially dry food, are more likely to have some intestinal problems during the raw meat exchange process.
When cats eat raw meat, the stomach will secrete a higher concentration of stomach acid to digest protein, and the starch and plant fiber content in dry food are higher, and when the cat eats into the body, the secreted concentration of stomach acid and digestive enzymes is definitely different.
The sudden transition from dry food to raw meat, the concentration of stomach acid changes drastically in a short period of time, and the digestive system of the cat is prone to discomfort, the most common manifestation of which is vomiting, soft stools or thinning.
In addition, too frequent feeding, one feeding too much or food too ice may also cause vomiting, each feeding interval of at least 4-5 hours, the first 1-2 pieces of small minced meat try to feed, officially converted to a staple food after each ton of feeding increased by 3-4%, food to ensure room temperature or warm.
Therefore, in addition to ensuring nutritional balance, it is also very important to change raw meat and bone meat step by step.
6. How to help cats change food scientifically?
1, do not immediately abandon the old food
Keep your past eating habits and try to feed the cat 1-2 raw meats a day, which can be mixed in your favorite can or snack.
Observe the condition of bowel movements. After 3-7 days, gradually increase the number or amount of raw meat feeding, continue to pay attention to defecation, and then slowly transition the staple food to whole raw meat.
If there are digestive problems such as vomiting and thinning, you can stop for 1-3 days before continuing feeding.
If your cat has been accustomed to eating dry food all his life, or even a specific brand of dry food, then the food change cycle may be longer, the speed should be slower, give the cat enough time to adapt, you can first let the cat adapt to eating canned staple food, and then begin to transition to raw food.
2. Can pets eat raw meat if they have serious intestinal digestive problems?
In this case, it is also possible to eat raw meat and bones, and even less commercial pet food with unstable quality components. Because raw bone meat can at least ensure the source and freshness of ingredients, the variety of raw materials is more controllable.
In the early stage, you can control the raw materials within 1-2 kinds, and you can even cook until they are half cooked and then fed, while observing whether the bowel movements are normal. If the bowel movements are normal and intestinal function slowly resumes, increase the variety of ingredients and reduce the degree of cooking.
It should be noted that this type of cat itself has a fragile intestine, and the digestive problems in the process of changing food will be repeated, and the process of changing food may last for several months, requiring more love and patience from the shoveler.
3. First use the staple food freeze-dried or canned staple food to help the transition
Worried about the cat not eating raw meat in the first place? The group leader suggested that everyone can use canned staple food or staple food freeze-dried (rehydration) to assist in food change.
Especially those who have been accustomed to eating only dry food since childhood (this refers to puffed grain).
One is that both of these belong to pure meat wet food, especially the staple food freeze-dried, which itself is freeze-dried raw meat; second, the staple food freeze-dried and the staple food canned meat is relatively strong, which can make the cat familiar with the aroma of the meat itself first, nutrition and palatability can be guaranteed; the third is because it is a staple food, it will not make pets addicted like snacks, but does not love to eat staple food.
All in all, as long as you ensure that raw meat comes from formal channels, proper storage and processing, there is no need to worry about parasites or bacteria; to transition from commercial pet food to whole-raw bone meat feeding, you must take it step by step and give the cat enough time to adapt; if there is a digestive problem, please do not give up directly, you can take a short break and try again.
Want to use the staple food freeze-dried or staple food canned to help change food, also welcome to the group leader's shop shopping, recently just launched a new comprehensive tasting can, the group leader according to palatability, price, nutrition to mix various brands and flavors of canned food into different packages, convenient to choose difficult pot friends to buy, but also let the Mao children a variety of flavors of canned small taste of fresh.
Of course, there are also small packets of freeze-dried staple foods to try.
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