Dogs and Cats Receiving Raw Meat Diets

Animals consuming raw meat diets have been shown to be at risk for salmonella infection. The policy below is designed to prevent possible exposure of animals and staff in the VH to this organism.

• Animals consuming raw meat diets that have diarrhea on admission, or develop diarrhea during hospitalization, must be placed in isolation. A fecal sample must be taken and cultured at the time of admission.
• If Salmonella spp. are isolated, patients should remain in isolation for the duration of their stay in the hospital.
• If Salmonella spp. are not detected in the initial isolate, the patient can be moved to general hospital or other areas after three consecutive negative cultures are obtained from the animal at 12 hour intervals.
• If an animal that tested positive for Salmonella spp. is readmitted to the VH, it must be housed in isolation until a series of three negative fecal culture results are obtained.
• Animals with diarrhea that have consumed raw meat diets in the past, can be admitted to general hospital and other areas if they have not consumed raw meat diets within the two weeks before admission, and if the attending clinician determines that it is unlikely due to Salmonella.
• Raw food will not be fed, stored or handled within the NC State Veterinary Hospital.