| Feeding raw meat and its hazards | | | | Neosporosis |
| Toxoplasmosis | | | | Neospora is a parasite that is ingested via infected |
| Up until several years ago Neosporosis was | | | | fresh meat, after eating infected meat it only takes |
| misdiagnosed as Toxoplasma Gondii, which is caused | | | | a couple of days for the parasite to attack the brain, |
| by a protozoan that infects warm-blooded animals. | | | | then work its way down the spinal cord and infect all |
| The cause of infection is from ingesting raw or | | | | the major organs and mussels. Leaving the dog |
| undercooked meat such as pork, beef and veal that | | | | paralysed and blind. Several studies performed by |
| contains Toxoplasma gondii. The excretion of | | | | universities have shown that from the first sign of |
| oocysts in the stools of cats and the ingestion of | | | | symptoms, death or euthanasia is usually within 7 |
| spores by dogs are other potential sources of | | | | days. Other tests have shown that with medication it |
| infection. Oocysts require 1-3 days under warm | | | | can leave the parasite dormant indefinitely, but if |
| conditions and high humidity to produce spores. | | | | paralysis has set in, then there would be no |
| These infective spores can survive in the | | | | improvement in the damage to the dogs muscle |
| environment for months. Only cats excrete the | | | | reactions, due to brain damage. The Neospora |
| oocysts in their stool. The dog therefore is not | | | | parasite is ingested from fresh infected meat, |
| capable of infecting other dogs or humans in this | | | | freezing or cooking the meat will kill the spores. |
| way. The danger occurs when a pregnant woman | | | | Neospora cannot use humans as a host so if ingested |
| without immunity is exposed to areas contaminated | | | | the stomach will kill the spores. That is why the |
| by cat faeces and becomes infected with | | | | human food chain has never alerted the public, it only |
| Toxoplasma gondii. Pregnant women should avoid | | | | affects, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and dogs. |
| contact with faecal matter from cats. | | | | Apparently only one animal is inspected from each |
| The majority of Dogs with Toxoplasmosis experience | | | | heard to be slaughtered, but that’s in this |
| no symptoms, however when symptoms do occur | | | | country. A lot of meat now comes from other |
| they can include fever, loss of appetite, cough and | | | | countries. I don’t wont to scare anyone into |
| rapid breathing. Other symptoms can include weight | | | | not feeding raw meat to their dogs, just make sure |
| loss, diarrhoea, enlarged lymph nodes and swelling of | | | | you freeze it for at least 24 hrs before feeding it to |
| the abdomen. Very young puppies with | | | | your dog. |
| toxoplasmosis may show signs of hepatitis, | | | | Please Note:This article is provided as a source of |
| pneumonia and encephalitis. Toxoplasmosis can be | | | | information only. It is not intended as a substitute for |
| treated with antibiotics. | | | | veterinarian advice or care. |