Raw chicken is a dog’s favorite. When we used to feed our dog with raw chicken, he seemed to enjoy it more than any other food. However, a new University of Melbourne U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital study proposes that raw chicken, especially chicken neck, is unsafe for dogs.
According to the researchers, the presence of raw chicken in your pet’s diet can lead to polyradiculoneuritis (APN), a rare disease that can cause serious nerve damage.
Dr. Matthias le Chevoir, chief investigator of the study, says that APN first affects the hind legs before it moves to the front legs, neck, head, and face.
Before le Chevoir and his team conducted the study, the causes of APN was unknown. They studied the feces of dogs that consume raw meat against those that do not until they found a link between raw diet and APN.
Although dogs with APN usually recover after six months even without treatment, APN may also lead to chest paralysis and death. APN also increases their risk of acquiring Campylobacter infection. The bacteria found in undercooked meat, contaminated water, and unpasteurized milk can also cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, in humans.
While dogs do love raw chicken, it is always best to give your dogs a balanced diet under the guidance of a veterinarian.
Source: Inquirer.net
Header image courtesy of Pixabay
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