Talking About Raw Food, Salmonella and Food Safety with Dr. Katy Patterson
Healthy Dogs | February 19, 2018
If you’ve ever read one of Mud Bay’s solution sheets, you’re already familiar with the work of our in-house veterinarian, Dr. Katy Patterson. Dr. Katy, as she’s called by most Muddies, helps determine which foods, toys, supplements and other products Mud Bay carries. She also answers all our tough animal nutrition questions and is part of the team who built our new feeding calculator. Like some veterinarians, she recommends raw food to certain pet owners and feeds raw food at home.
We sat down to talk to Dr. Katy about a recent FDA report about salmonella in raw food and found out the food safety tips she recommends for all pet owners.
KP: The Minnesota Department of Health found a link between a strain of salmonella found in a raw petfood, and two children in Minnesota becoming ill with salmonella. One child needed to be hospitalized. Because the strains were the same, the FDA believes that the salmonella found in the raw pet food in their house was the cause of these children becoming ill.
We don’t know why this happened. There are many ways we could hypothesize that a salmonella infection could have occurred. For example: Were the children allowed to feed the pets, and they didn’t wash their hands after handling the food? Did each pet have a separate food bowl? Were those bowls washed after every meal? Were all the utensils used washed after every meal?
Also, the food was from a mail-order company. No one knows if the food thawed in transit, which could allow the bacteria to flourish.
There are a lot of safe handling guidelines for raw meat, in general, whether it’s raw pet food or people food. We don’t know about the food safety procedures followed at that home, so we don’t know if the right food handling steps could have prevented anyone from getting sick.
KP: Many of our raw food manufacturers test for salmonella, E. coli, listeria and other bacteria. They might test for bacteria before the raw ingredients come into their facility, once the ingredients arrive or after processing.
The test-and-hold procedure is a method some food partners use to test the food after processing. Each batch of food they produce is held at their facility until the test results show that the food doesn’t contain any unhealthy bacteria. Once the food manufacturer gets those negative test results, the food can be shipped to stores.
Some of our food partners use what are called kill steps. These processes ensure any bacteria in the food is killed before shipping it to stores. There are several methods that can be used.
One of the most common methods used by Mud Bay’s food partners is high-pressure pasteurization (HPP). It’s a process where the raw food is put in a cannister, and a machine pressurizes the food inside. The pressure is so strong, it fractures the cell walls of any single-cell bacteria. The bacteria then die, but the pressure doesn’t have the same effect on the enzymes, vitamins and minerals that are in that food. While the food is processed, it’s not a type of invasive processing that affects the nutritional value.
Another common kill step is to use a biologic solution that kills the pathogenic bacteria. The food manufacturers apply these solutions to the surface of raw foods, and it only targets the harmful bacteria. It doesn’t alter the nutritional value at all.
A lot of our raw food partners combine several methods to kill any possible bacteria. Some manufacturers may use several kill steps at different parts of the process to reduce the risk of any type of contamination.
KP: Basically, what people need to do is treat raw pet food like raw meat they cook at home. You want to thaw it out in the refrigerator. Keep it frozen as long as possible, and only thaw it a few hours before feeding your dog or cat. Wash your hands and utensils with warm, soapy water after handling raw food. And if the food has been at room temperature for longer than 30 to 60 minutes, you need to throw it away.
Also, if your household includes young children, the elderly or any person who has a compromised immune system, raw food may not be the best choice for your life. If your pet has a compromised immune system, you might not want to feed raw food.
However, if you’re very diligent about handling raw food to reduce the risk of any contamination, we think the risk to most people is very small. That means you must wash every surface with warm, soapy water any time it meets raw food. But this risk is no greater than the risk of having any type of raw meat inside of your house for your own consumption.
It’s important to remember that we do recommend washing your hands and utensils after handling any type of dog or cat food. Salmonella has been found in kibble, so this isn’t just a risk for people feeding raw food. Whether you feed kibble, canned or raw food, you should practice good food safety procedures.
Dr. Katy Patterson is Mud Bay’s in-house veterinarian. She works at our home office in Olympia, Washington, where she always makes time to answer Muddy and customer questions. When she’s not at work, she’s with her family, the menagerie of animals at her farm or eventing with her horse, PK.
Furvor bone broth is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is up to 30 times more concentrated than regular broths. It provides protein, collagen, amino acids, and important nutrients to help your dog’s gut, joints, skin, coat, and overall health.
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The 20 oz bottle provides more than 20 servings, making it an easy way to add beneficial nutrition to your dog’s daily routine at home.
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If you’re out and about, Furvor’s single-serve pouches will help keep your dog hydrated, with a pep in their step wherever you go. They’re great for summer, hikes, walks, or days by the water.
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Just tear open, squeeze, and serve. You can mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or give it on its own. You can buy them one at a time or in a pack of six.
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Shop Furvor Bone Broth in-store or online today! 🛍️ 🐾
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Capstar Oral Flea & Tick Treatment
🐾When fleas show up, it helps to act quickly. Capstar is an easy-to-use oral treatment that starts working in about 30 minutes and can kill most fleas within the first few hours. It’s a simple way to bring fast relief and can be used alongside your dog’s regular flea and tick routine.
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Vetality Flea & Tick Monthly Topical Treatment
🐾 For ongoing protection, Vetality Avantect offers vet-quality coverage at a great value.
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These broad-spectrum topicals kill and repel fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes, while also targeting all stages of the flea life cycle. It also helps repel biting flies and kill lice. Available in four weight ranges and a four-month supply for continued protection.
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🛍️ Shop in-store or online today.
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We have all the treats, toys, and zoomie-inducing catnip options for your cat, both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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So whether you have a cat who likes to bite, rabbit-kick, or lie back and relax with a nice treat and some catnip, we have what your feline friend needs to keep them happy, healthy, and engaged.🐈
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Oven-fresh meals straight to your dog’s bowl.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest is a high-protein, oven-baked dog food, basted in bone broth to support your dog’s digestion and joint health.
Nulo only uses high-quality proteins like turkey, herring, chicken, pork, lamb, and beef, then bakes each formula slowly at low temperatures to retain nutrients and make meals easier to digest.
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Choose from Adult recipes such as Chicken & Whitefish, Turkey & Herring, or Pork & Lamb, available in 4-lb or 25-lb bags. For small breeds, Beef & Lamb comes in 4-lb and 10-lb bags.
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Shop Nulo Culinary Harvest Oven-Baked Dog Food in stores or order online today!
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Did you know that Mud Bay now has sushi 🍣 for cats?
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Thanks to our friends at Fabcat, your cat can now enjoy a 5-piece sushi combo platter at Mud Bay. Each piece is not only fun to play with, but also filled with North American-grown catnip that will get your cat excited to bite, swat, and zoom around.
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Check out the Fabcat Sushi Combo Platter and treat your cat to something special. Available in-store or online.
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Looking for a simple way to slow things down at mealtime or keep your dog busy?🤔
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The Walkabout from Woof is a multi-purpose enrichment toy that can hold up to 2 cups of food or treats. Just twist it open, fill it up, and rotate the inner dial to adjust how quickly food is released.
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It’s designed for quieter play, gentle on teeth, and safe for your floors—no marks, no noise, just steady engagement.
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A great option for busy days, working from home, or dogs that need a little extra enrichment. 🛒 🛍️ Shop the Walkabout in-store or online at Mud Bay.
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You heard us, now we want to hear from you! 📣 👂
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We want to know your dog’s favorite woof Pupsicle recipe. Let us know what your pup loves most in their Pupsicle. We’d love to share your recipes with our followers, too.
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Send us a DM, leave a comment, share photos, or tag us in your favorite woof recipe. We might even make your recipe in-store and give you a shout-out! We can’t wait to hear from you.
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Stay tuned, because we’ll be sharing some of your recipes 🧑🍳 in the coming weeks!
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Nulo Culinary Harvest coming soon at Mud Bay!
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This new option from Nulo is an oven-baked, high-protein dog food basted in bone broth. And because it’s oven-baked, that means it’s cooked at a lower temperature, so your dog can absorb more nutrients and get the most out of each meal. The bone broth also adds extra flavor, perfect for dogs who appreciate something extra at mealtime that also has functional benefits to their overall health.
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Nulo Culinary Harvest for Adult and Small Breed dogs, will soon be available both in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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🐝 🌷 🌈 Spring is here, and that means fleas and ticks are back. To help protect your cat, we’re excited to offer new TropiClean 🌴 options designed to make care simple and effective.
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TropiClean Laundry Additive helps tackle fleas, ticks, eggs, and larvae right in your wash. Just add half a cup with your regular detergent, let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes, and use it on bedding, towels, blankets, rugs, and toys. Plus, it’s safe for use with your dog!
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TropiClean Gentle No-Rinse Cat Shampoo offers an easy way to clean and protect without the hassle. It helps eliminate fleas, ticks, and mites, protects against mosquitoes, and is safe for pets and kids.
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TropiClean Gentle Mist for Cats is a quick, on-the-go option for added protection. Just spray and go for an easy way to help protect against fleas, ticks, mites, and mosquitoes.
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You can shop TropiClean products for your cat in-store and online at Mud Bay.
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Furvor bone 🦴 broth for dogs is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is highly concentrated, so every squeeze adds real nutrition to your dog’s routine.
🐕 It’s packed with protein, amino acids, and nutrients that can support gut health, mobility, skin and coat, and overall wellness.
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It’s also an easy way to boost hydration and bring a little excitement back to the bowl—especially for picky eaters. Just mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or serve it on its own.
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Shop Furvor 🛒 🛍️ 🐕 Bone Broth in-store or online at Mud Bay!
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Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
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Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass.
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You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
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If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
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If your pup brings the energy indoors, meet their new favorite toy. The ultra plush Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball is designed for fetch, toss, and all-out play.
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With a strong inner mesh liner and concealed double stitching, it delivers the durability Fluff & Tuff is known for in a soft, soccer-inspired design.
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Kick off the fun and shop the Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball in-store or online at Mud Bay.
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