to Kim: just wanted to point out to that I am the one who linked to a
blog post about raw food, not Meryl.

my understanding is that animals on a raw diet shed MORE salmonella,
here's a link from the site that links to studies showing that animals
shed bacteria at a higher rate.

http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2010/05/articles/animals/dogs/more-raw-debate/

any interested party should read the blog posts related to salmonella
on this site. it includes links to recalls from both kibble diets, raw
diets, frozen prey. one thing to note: if you keep reptiles, your risk
for Salmonella goes up.

<http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/admin/mt-xsearch.cgi?blog_id=519&search_key=keyword&search=salmonella&Search.x=3&Search.y=12>

here's the worms and germs link regarding the delta society ban.

<http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2010/05/articles/animals/dogs/raw-diets-banned-by-delta-society/>

in the link, the blogger states there are 2 separate issues:
1. is raw feeding more healthy or harmful to the pet?
2. do raw fed pets cause disease in people to hospitals?
he thinks Delta Society puts the policy in because there is enough
evidence to indicate increased risk. but the policy is NOT a
condemnation of raw diets.

I did a search for Lew Olsen k9nutrition and could not find any links.
however, I did not join k9nutrition which is a yahoo group. if the
poster (or anybody else) can provide these links to the studies showing
that kibble-fed animlas have more harmful bacteria than raw red
animals, I'll be interested in reading them and maybe asking the
blogger. fyi, the worms and germs blog is coordinated by Dr Weese at
the pathology department in the University of Guelph. Lew Olsen has a
PhD in natural nutrition and a business that sells, among other things,
homeopathic products for pets. I find one of these sources to be more
trustworthy than the other.

my current world view, subject to change based on new information:
- raw diet is probably healthier for my ferrets
- kibble fed ferrets shed less salmonella compare to raw fed ferrets
- increased amounts of salmonella may cause problems for sick ferrets
  and people
- high pressure pasteurization (HPP) is an effective way to eliminate
  salmonella in food processing

so I feed kibble and HPP treated raw diet.

--

when I introduce a ferret to a raw diet, I puree the raw and add a
bit of hot water. I drip a few drops on their mouths and the ferret
generally starts licking off my fingers or a spoon. after a couple of
feedings, I don't need to puree any more and you can see the ferret
turn into a piggy.

Selina, Mochi, Jolt, Cola, Skipper

[Posted in FML 6893]