history for patients. If owners choose to feed their dogs a raw diet, VNs should encourage regular health and weight checks, alongside offering dietary clinics to ensure nutrition-related conditions are minimised through owner support [ 45 ]. As a result, animal health and welfare will be protected.
Further research
Limited studies have been conducted on the nutritional effects of raw diets. The published literature is largely based on case studies, with individual patient-specific responses and limited access to larger populations with identical conditions resulting from imbalanced raw diets. Research on wider populations would be beneficial, as it would enable a better understanding of any association between imbalanced raw diets and conditions such as hyperthyroidism. Consequently, veterinary professionals could apply the knowledge to help owners ensure that, should they choose to feed their pets a raw diet, it is nutritionally balanced. Additionally, further investigation into owner knowledge of the health effects of raw diets will greatly contribute to the VN ' s ability to promote appropriate and safe raw diets. Through understanding owner motivations and identifying where knowledge is lacking, dietary clinics can be tailored to fill these gaps.
Further research into the relationship between common and uncommon parasites and raw diets is necessary. However, despite the increasing clinical significance of uncommon parasites, their inconsistent prevalence may prove a challenge to research [ 30 ]. Nonetheless, research should be encouraged, due to the increasing contribution of raw diets to their occurrence.
There is a clear lack of research into the health conditions bacteria can cause and contribute to, alongside the risks posed to people who encounter companion animals fed a raw diet. Owner engagement is key, alongside access to wider populations of animals with health conditions related to raw diets, which is not always possible. However, research will allow a fuller understanding of the risks, allowing VNs to relay appropriate information and advice to owners, maximising animal welfare.
Conclusions
Research has identified significant bacterial and parasitic risks associated with raw diets, alongside nutritional imbalances that are detrimental to canine health. These imbalances can cause conditions including hyperthyroidism, hypovitaminosis D and hyperparathyroidism, alongside developmental stunting. Raw diets can promote zoonotic transmission of bacteria including E. coli and Salmonella. Additionally, the risk of parasitic infections is increased, including uncommon species such as H. heydorni.
However, some pet owners believe raw feeding is of benefit to their dogs, so VNs should help ensure this is done as safely and nutritiously as possible. This indicates the need for VN-led dietary clinics, through which VNs can help owners understand the potential negative effects of raw diets on canine health, and provide support and education to minimise the risks.
Further research is necessary to explore the effects of parasitic and bacterial infections related to raw diets, and the health impact of feeding animals a nutritionally imbalanced raw diet. Additionally, owner motivations and knowledge around feeding animals raw diets need to be more fully understood. With this information, VNs can adapt their related approaches and education techniques to ensure animal health and welfare is optimised.
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