Do Raw Fed Pets Need Stool Tests?Updated a year ago

If you feed your pet raw food you should consider our routine stool test with the upgrade to microbe (PCR) screening.

Raw dog and cat food (like undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables) can be contaminated with some scary bacteria. The most concerning are Salmonella and Campylobacter. In dogs and cats these bacteria can cause mild to severe digestive upset, most commonly loose or watery diarrhea, with or without vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, decreased energy level, and loss of appetite. These bacteria can be life-threatening in puppies and kittens or in adults with suppressed immune systems. Fortunately for dogs and cats, most of them infected with Salmonella or Campylobacter will stay healthy. However, they can still shed them in the stool intermittently, serving as a source of contamination for other pets and people. 

These bacteria are a serious health concern for people who can get illness symptoms similar to their pets. Young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for more severe infections. Stool tests should be performed twice yearly on adult dogs and cats. Unlike the basic stool test typically done by veterinarians, stool testing for raw fed dogs and cats should include screening for Salmonella and Campylobacter.

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