Pet Owners Risk Perception and Risk Communication in Disasters in Developing Countries.

Disasters can cause great physical and financial damage to pet owners in developing countries. These effects lead to severe psychological side effects on individuals and families. With the tendency of families to keep pets in these countries, many challenges have arisen regarding how to manage these pets before, during, and after disasters. Therefore, mitigation, prevention, and preparedness measures for these families should be prioritized in the disaster management cycle to minimize psychological effects such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after losing pets.

A retrospective study of pet owners' complaints against veterinary practices in Türkiye (2012-2021).

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine in detail the complaints against veterinarians submitted by pet owners and evaluated by the Turkish Veterinary Medical Association in Türkiye, with the aim to create awareness among Turkish veterinarians about the nature of the complaints and how they might reduce the risk of making medical errors. SAMPLE: 127 files of complaints. METHODS: A total of 127 written complaints from pet owners filed between January 2012 and December 2021 were analyzed. The pet owners' complaints were subjected to a conventional content analysis to identify the primary, secondary, and tertiary themes. Each case was evaluated by a 3-level complaint-coding taxonomy. The first level included 3 domains (themes), namely clinical, management, and relationship, while the second level was ordered in a total of 7 subcategories of complaint types. Thereafter, the third-level minor themes were grouped into related subcategories. RESULTS: From 127 file complaints, 296 specific issues were identified. Of these, 62% were in the clinical domain, 24% in the management domain, and 14% about poor behavior of the attending veterinarians. The most common (43%) complaint was medical errors. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An increased awareness of common medical errors should be promoted among Turkish veterinarians in order to reduce the risk of negligence and malpractice.

Pet ownership is associated with harmful alcohol use among a cohort of people with HIV: a brief research report.

Research suggests that people with HIV (PWH), who are at high risk for alcohol and substance use, may rely on relationships with pets for companionship and stress relief. There may be common mechanisms underlying both substance use and attachment to pets. The purpose of this brief research report was to compare alcohol and substance use behaviors between pet owners and non-owners among a cohort of PWH. Participants (n = 735) in a survey study of PWH in Florida were asked about their alcohol and substance use behaviors, whether they owned a pet, and their sociodemographic characteristics. We used bivariate analyses and logistic regression to examine differences in alcohol and substance use behaviors between pet owners and non-owners. Pet owners had higher mean AUDIT scores than non-owners (Mpet = 5, Mnopet = 4, z = -3.07, p = 0.002). Pet owners were more likely than non-owners to use alcohol in a harmful or hazardous way (AUDIT score ≥ 8), above and beyond sociodemographic characteristics (OR = 1.65, p = 0.052). Pet owners were more likely to have ever used most substances than non-owners, and more likely to currently use alcohol (X2(1) = 12.97, p = 0.000), marijuana or hashish (X2(1) = 6.82, p = 0.009), and amyl nitrate/poppers (X2(1) = 11.18, p = 0.001). Pet owners may be more likely to use alcohol and other substances at higher rates than non-owners. Reasons for owning a pet and using substances may be similar, such as coping with stress.

Pet Owners' Attitudes and Opinions towards Cat and Dog Care Practices in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This research aimed to explore cat and dog owners' attitudes and opinions towards various pet care practices in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), and determine what factors were associated with them. An online survey composed of both closed and open-ended questions was administered from January to March 2019. A total of 2358 respondents answered the questions on pet care practices. Of these, 37.5 percent (n = 885) were both dog and cat owners, 28.0 percent (n = 652) were cat owners, and 26.0 percent (n = 609) were dog owners, while 9% (n = 212) of respondents did not own a cat or dog at the time of taking the survey. The study revealed that most respondents (>90%) acknowledge the importance of providing adequate housing, regular worming and flea treatments, microchipping, and vaccinations for their pets. Notably, demographic factors such as gender, ethnicity, age range, having children, having a rural upbringing, and place of residence influenced owners' attitudes, with those towards cat care practices varying more than those for dogs. The study highlights the need for responsible pet ownership interventions considering these demographic factors. The study identifies a knowledge gap among pet owners concerning the importance of regular veterinary visits and the impact of breeding for certain looks on animal welfare. The use of shock collar devices provoked varying opinions on their usage for training and behavior modification. The study suggests that enhancing pet owners' knowledge is pivotal for responsible pet ownership. Overall, the findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions that account for demographic variations for promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. The findings underscore the importance of improving access to veterinary health care teams, especially in rural areas, and of providing culturally appropriate education resources for both pet owners and veterinary health care teams.

The Well-Being of Companion Animal Caregivers and Their Companion Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review.

It is important to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on animal caregivers and their companion animals in order to inform responses to future crises. Prior research is inconsistent, with the benefits of animal companionship believed to be overstated. In this scoping review, we searched four electronic databases and hand-searched reference lists of included studies. Over 4000 citations were found, and 122 were included in the review. Reflecting on the pre-COVID literature, quantitative evidence of the association between psychological well-being and animal companionship during the pandemic was mixed, with numerous positive, negative, and null findings reported. Studies highlighted the benefits of animal companionship during the pandemic, with animals reported to provide their caregivers with a routine, a sense of greater purpose, a positive distraction from COVID-19, companionship, and emotional support. However, participants also reported concerns about meeting animals' needs, fears of animals catching or spreading the virus, and financial worries. Concerns about what would happen to animals if caregivers were hospitalized led some to delay COVID-19 testing or treatment. Animals also experienced benefits (such as increased companionship and calmer mood) and negative impacts (such as increased clinginess and separation anxiety). Companion animals should be a key consideration in emergency preparedness plans.

Antimicrobial Resistant Staphylococcus Species Colonization in Dogs, Their Owners, and Veterinary Staff of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Naples, Italy.

This study aimed to identify Staphylococcus species isolated from nasal swabs of both healthy and diseased dogs, and those of human origin, obtained from nasal swabs of both owners and veterinary staff. Firstly, pet owners were requested to complete a questionnaire relating to the care and relationship with their pets, whose results mainly showed a statistically significant higher frequency of hand washing in diseased dogs' owners than in healthy dogs' owners. Canine nasal swabs were obtained from 43 diseased dogs and 28 healthy dogs, while human nasal swabs were collected from the respective dogs' owners (71 samples) and veterinary staff (34 samples). The isolation and identification of Staphylococcus spp. were followed by disk diffusion method to define the antimicrobial resistance profiles against 18 different molecules. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was the most frequent isolated strain in both diseased (33.3%) and healthy (46.1%) dogs. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequent isolated bacterium in diseased dogs' owners (66.6%), while in nasal samples of healthy dogs' owners, the same frequency of isolation (38.4%) was observed for both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus. All the isolated strains showed good susceptibility levels to the tested antimicrobials; however, the carriage of oxacillin-resistant strains was significantly higher in diseased dogs than in healthy ones (71% and 7.7%, respectively). Only in three cases the presence of the same bacterial species with similar antimicrobial resistance profiles in dogs and their owners was detected, suggesting the potential bacterial transmission. In conclusion, this study suggests potential transmission risk of staphylococci from dogs to humans or vice versa, and highlights that the clinical relevance of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius transmission from dog to human should not be underestimated, as well as the role of Staphylococcus aureus from human to dog transmission.

Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in Australia.

Many species of canine gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are known to be zoonotic meaning that dog owners' management and practices are key to preventing exposure of humans and dogs as well as contamination of the environment. As Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, we administered an online questionnaire to dog owners across the nation to assess their perceptions, practices, and behaviours towards canine GI parasites. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarise perceptions and management practices. Factors associated with the suitability of parasiticide treatments applied were investigated using uni- and multivariable ordinal regression. Just over a half of dog owners considered parasites as very or extremely important for their dog's health (59%) and less than a half as very or extremely important for human health (46%). Although the majority of dog owners stated that they deworm their dogs (90%), only the 28% followed best practice guidelines, i.e. administered a monthly prophylactic treatment all-year round. A large proportion of respondent dog owners administered prophylactic treatment at an inappropriate frequency (48%) or did not treat for canine GI parasites at all (24%). Attending vet visits at least once a year or once every six months and having a very comfortable or prosperous financial position were significantly associated with following best deworming prophylaxis guidelines. This study demonstrates that a proportion of dog owners in Australia is not complying with best practice regarding the control of canine GI parasites and is potentially exposing themselves and their dogs to the risk of infections. Veterinarians are called to implement dog owner's education, raise their awareness on the threats canine parasitic diseases pose to both dogs and humans and finally, encourage them to follow a monthly prophylactic treatment for canine GI parasites all year round.

Pet owners provide a more reliable weight estimate for dogs compared to veterinary professionals in an emergency setting.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers (interns and residents), and attending clinicians at estimating dog weights in a veterinary emergency room. ANIMALS: 272 dogs weighing over 2 kg presenting to the emergency room between June 1 and July 29, 2022. METHODS: Pet owners, veterinary technicians, house officers, and attending clinicians recorded the dogs' weight estimations on individual data collection cards. Pet owners were also asked to estimate their dogs' weight during the triage period. The dogs' actual weights were then obtained and recorded. RESULTS: Pet owners were more accurate than veterinary professionals at providing weight estimates for dogs. Weight estimates were accurate to within 10% of the dogs' actual weights for 67.9% (181/267) of pet owners. Forty-one percent (112/270) of attending clinicians, 35.3% (95/269) of house officers, and 35.4% (96/271) of veterinary technicians' weight estimates were within 10% of the dog's actual weight. There was no difference noted in the length of veterinary experience and ability to closely estimate the patient's weight. Overall, veterinary professionals were more likely to closely estimate the weight of large dogs compared to small dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The pet owner is most likely to provide an accurate weight for dogs and questions about the dog's weight should be directed to the client for situations in which a weight cannot be rapidly obtained.

Monitoring of Diabetes Mellitus Using the Flash Glucose Monitoring System: The Owners' Point of View.

The flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS) has recently become one of the most common monitoring methods in dogs and cats with diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of FGMS on the quality of life of diabetic pet owners (DPOs). Fifty DPOs were asked to answer a 30-question survey. More than 80% of DPOs considered FGMS easier to use and less stressful and painful for the animal compared to blood glucose curves (BGCs). Overall, 92% of DPOs reported that their pet had better diabetes control since using FGMS. The most challenging aspects of using the FGMS were ensuring proper sensor fixation during the wearing period (47%), preventing premature detachment (40%), and purchasing the sensor (34%). Moreover, 36% of DPOs reported that the device cost was difficult to afford in the long term. Comparing dogs and cats, a significantly higher number of dogs' owners found the FGMS to be well-tolerated (79% vs. 40%), less invasive than BGCs (79% vs. 43%), and easier to maintain in situ (76% vs. 43%). In conclusion, FGMS is considered by DPOs to be easy to use and less stressful compared to BGCs, while enabling better glycemic control. Nevertheless, the costs related to its long-term use might be difficult to sustain.

Dog Owners' Attitude toward Veterinary Antibiotic Use and Antibiotic Resistance with a Focus on Canine Diarrhea Management.

An ad hoc questionnaire was designed in order to investigate AMR knowledge amongst Italian dog owners, owner expectations concerning pharmacological treatment of canine AD, and client attitudes towards and compliance with alternative strategies to antimicrobial administration. A total of 250 questionnaires were returned. Most of respondents were female, aged 36-70 and workers. More than a half of participants owned one dog with mixed breed, with Labrador retriever, golden retriever, dachshund, and border collie being the most represented breeds. On average, each dog was treated with an oral antibiotic 1.044 times per year. Intestinal diseases were among the main reasons (19%) for antibiotic prescription. Oral antibiotic courses without veterinary consultation (21%) and anticipated termination of the therapy (17.1%) were less common than reported elsewhere. The majority of respondents knew the meaning of AMR with a significant inverse association between the level of education and the tendency to administer antimicrobials without consulting a clinician (p = 0.004). Most of the owners expected a rapid recovery of clinical signs after a first episode of AD and accepted natural dietary supplementation for treating the condition. Ninety-five percent of the respondents believed that public funding should be spent to study AMR. Even though an acceptable degree of AMR awareness emerged, we feel that further efforts should be made to increase public AMR knowledge and to stimulate proactive measures to fight the phenomenon. On the other hand, the development of guidelines for the treatment of uncomplicated canine AD would help clinicians to rationalize antimicrobial use.

Pet Ownership in Aotearoa New Zealand: A National Survey of Cat and Dog Owner Practices.

This study used an online survey distributed between January and March 2019 to adults residing in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) to investigate cat and dog owner practices. Of the 2385 respondents, 885 (37%) owned both cat/s and dog/s, while 652 (28%) and 609 (26%) owned cat/s only or dog/s only, respectively. Nine percent of respondents (n = 212) did not own a cat or dog when the survey was administered. Gaps were identified in the practices of NZ pet owners with regard to regular grooming, immunizations, and deworming treatments. It was also found that many pets, especially cats, were allowed to wander freely both inside and outside the house. Collectively, these gaps in practice raise parasitology and infection concerns which may impact negatively on animal welfare and may increase the prevalence of zoonotic diseases. This study also revealed the need to improve desexing practices, particularly in dogs. Respondents in the survey expressed the wish to have pets regardless of the financial strain they may impose, indicating that future research should focus on reducing the financial burden of pet ownership along with promoting positive pet ownership practices. Our findings suggest the need for better education resources about pet ownership which are easily accessible and target diverse populations. The findings of this study will aid in developing appropriate educational resources to promote animal welfare and increase pet-related knowledge among the NZ populace.

Molecular screening of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats from households with infected owners diagnosed with COVID-19 during Delta and Omicron variant waves in Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats in different countries worldwide raises concerns that pets are at a higher risk for spreading or transmitting of SARS-CoV-2 to humans and other pets and increased the research works about the zoonotic aspects and natural routes of infection in companion animals. The current study aimed to detect the SARS-CoV-2 in household dogs and cats living with COVID-19 positive owners. METHODS: Deep oropharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected from 30 household pets (20 cats and 10 dogs) living with COVID-19 positive owners from April 2021 to 2022 in Kerman, Iran. All dogs' and cats' samples were tested by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Two household cats out of 20 examined (10%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2, whereas none of the examined dogs were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The two cats positive for SARS-CoV-2 were symptomatic and suffered from severe anorexia with maximum contact with their infected owners. CONCLUSION: This study reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in household cats in close contact with COVID-19 positive owners during the circulation of new SARS-CoV-2 variants (Delta and Omicron) in Iran and suggested that the transmission may have occurred from owners to their cats. Therefore, infected owners should eagerly limit close contact with their pets during COVID-19 illness.

Moral decision-making in pettism: The influence of animal type, pet ownership status, and social distance.

Speciesism prioritizes humans over animals and pets. Nevertheless, pet owners have a strong attachment bond with their pets, which makes their hierarchical view of pets less clear. Aiming to examine this issue, we present a dilemma involving animals and humans that allowed us to investigate whether animal type, social distance, and pet ownership status can affect moral decision-making related to pets. Save-willingness results showed that in the moral dilemmas of pets versus livestock versus wild animals (Studies 1a and 2a) and their own pets versus strangers (Studies 1b and 2b), pet owners prioritize pets whereas non-owners prioritize pets (Studies 1a and 2a) and strangers (Studies 1b and 2b). Pet owners prefer to save pets more than do non-owners (Study 1a), and this effect was only observed in females (Study 2a). Save-decision results showed that in the moral dilemmas of pets versus livestock versus wild animals (Study 2a), pet owners prioritize pets whereas in the dilemmas of pets versus strangers (Study 2b), pet owners prioritize strangers. The same result was found in non-owners. Pet owners prefer more than do non-owners to save pets (Study 2). Overall, the separation of save-willingness and save-decision results revealed that pet owners show special speciesism (i.e., pettism).

Motivation of Portuguese-Speaking Pet Owners Seeking Online Pet Health and Husbandry Information.

Internet use for pet health information is increasing in popularity among pet owners. So far, evidence on motivations and topics of interest is limited to surveys on English speaking countries. The objective was to evaluate the motivations of Portuguese-speaking pet owners when visiting a pet information website, written by a certified veterinarian. In situ needs and motivations of visitors were evaluated by classifying online questions (n = 202) and conducting a short questionnaire in the website sidebar (n = 453). Most pet owners were looking for general advice (73.9%), especially on systems with visible disease signs, being motivated by the lack of access to veterinary services due to costs (17.7%), support from other pet owners (11.3%), and complementing the insufficient information provided by the veterinarian (7.7%). Brazilians reported more lack of veterinary access due to costs compared to Portuguese respondents. Thus, Portuguese-speaking pet owners engaged in online searches to seek affordable veterinary care, better information, and emotional support.

Awareness of Pet Owners in Riyadh Regarding Pet-Related Health Risks and Their Associated Preventative Measures.

Objectives: This study aims to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of pet owners and their sources of information regarding pet-related health risks. It also assesses pet owners' perception of pet-related health risks and evaluates their attitudes and practices regarding preventative measures toward pet-related health risks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from September 2020 to February 2021. The target population was pet owners visiting pet stores. The city was divided into five equal sectors and data were collected from each sector using a questionnaire. Results: A total of 508 participants were engaged in the study. Of these, 402 participants fit the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the participants was 25.5 years. Gender was almost equally distributed, and the majority of participants were single, however most of the participants lived with four or more family members. Around 49.5% of participants had household members at a higher risk for pet-related diseases. The most common pet types were cats (77.4%), followed by birds (24.6%) and dogs (9.7%). Most participants were satisfied with their understanding of pet-related health risks and were not concerned about getting sick because of contact with pets. Physical harm was the most common pet-related health risk that the participants were satisfied with their level of understanding about, on the other hand their satisfaction with their understanding about gastrointestinal infections from pet contact was the lowest. Most participants had good pet husbandry and hygiene practices. Social media and veterinarians were the most common sources of information regarding pet-related health risks. Conclusion: Although most pet owners reported having good pet husbandry practices, further education is needed to raise awareness about pet-related health risks. Since most pet owners receive their information about this topic from social media and veterinarians, further education through these platforms might be beneficial.

Tracking Infection and Genetic Divergence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus at Pets, Pet Owners, and Environment Interface.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) has become a leading animal and public health pathogen that keeps on transferring from one host to other, giving rise to newer strains by genetic shifts. The current study was designed to investigate the epidemiology and genetic relatedness of mecA gene in S. aureus isolated from pets, immediate individuals in contact with pets, and veterinary clinic environments. A total of n = 300 samples were collected from different veterinary hospitals in Pakistan using convenience sampling. The collected samples were subjected to microbiological and biochemical examination for the isolation of S. aureus. Methicillin resistance was investigated by both phenotypically using oxacillin disk diffusion assay and by genotypically targeting mecA gene by PCR. PCR amplicons were subjected for sequencing by Sanger method of sequencing, which were subsequently submitted to NCBI GenBank under the accession numbers MT874770, MT874771, and MT874772. Sequence evolutionary analysis and mecA gene characterization was done using various bioinformatics tools. Overall, 33.66% mecA genes harboring S. aureus strains were isolated from all sources (33.33% from pets, 46.0% from surrounding, and 28.0% from immediate contact individuals). The bioinformatics analysis noted that one SNP was identified at position c.253C>A (Transvertion). The phylogenetic tree (two clades) of S. aureus mecA revealed a possibility of inter-transmission of disease between the environment and pets. Frequency of adenine and thymine nucleotide in motifs were found to be the same (0.334). Cytosine and guanine frequency were also the same (0.166). Threonine was replaced by asparagine (p.T84D) in each sample of cat, environment, and human. On the other hand, protein structures ofcat-1 and cat-2 proteins were found identical while cat-3, environmental, and human proteins shared identical structures. The study thus concludes rising circulation of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains in animal-human-environment interfaces, forecasting the development of novel strains withmodified range of resistance.

Grooming-Related Concerns Among Companion Animals: Preliminary Data on an Overlooked Topic and Considerations for Animals' Access to Health-Related Services.

Grooming is an essential health maintenance activity that is fundamental to the welfare of many companion animals. Despite the potentially serious consequences of inadequate grooming for pets and their caregivers, few studies have examined the role of access to pet grooming services and supplies in promoting and maintaining companion animal health and welfare. The goal of this paper was 2-fold: (1) To provide preliminary findings demonstrating the scope of grooming and matting concerns among animals served by a large, non-profit animal welfare organization and (2) to provide a call for research to guide effective prevention of and responses to grooming-related omissions of care. We retrospectively extracted data from five American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) programs serving the New York City area: ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH), Community Medicine (CM), One ASPCA Fund, ASPCA-NYPD (New York City Police Department) Partnership, and the Community Engagement (CE) Program. The prevalence of grooming-related concerns was relatively consistent across all three veterinary service programs (AAH: 6%; CM: 4%; One ASPCA Fund: 6%). Thirteen percent of the ASPCA-NYPD Partnership's cruelty cases involved general hair matting concerns and/or strangulating hair mat wounds (93% were long-haired dog breed types). Five percent of CE cases received grooming-related supplies to support pet caregivers' in-home grooming capabilities. Our findings underscore the need to understand the scope of grooming-related concerns among animals served by veterinarians and other community programs to improve animals' access to health-related services.

Revised environmental identity scale: Adaptation and preliminary examination on a sample of Italian pet owners.

The Revised Environmental Identity (EID) Scale is a tool proposed by Clayton in 2021 to replace her 2003's EID Scale and aims to measure individual differences in a stable sense of interdependence and connectedness with nature. Since an Italian version of this scale was still missing, the present study presents an adaptation of the Revised EID Scale in Italian. The scale has been translated, back-translated, and administered online to 163 pet owners living in Italy in the context of a study about pet attachment. A parallel analysis suggested the existence of two factors. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified the same number of factors: "Connectedness to nature" (nine items) and "Protection of nature" (five items); the two subscales were found to be consistent. This structure explains more variance compared with the traditional one-factor solution. Sociodemographic variables do not seem to affect the scores of the two EID factors. This adaptation and preliminary validation of the EID scale have relevant implications for studies in the Italian context as well as on specific population groups such as pet owners, and more generally, for international studies on EID.

Down the Rabbit Hole: Domestic Rabbit Owners' Perceptions of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious pathogen that infects wild and domestic rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). Globally, RHDV2 has resulted in substantial economic losses for commercial rabbit trade and caused wild lagomorph population declines. Previous research on RHDV2 suggests that human-mediated movement of rabbits may contribute to the spread of RHDV2. We conducted the first survey of individuals who own or interact with domestic rabbits to identify their rabbit husbandry behaviors and knowledge of, and concerns about, RHDV2. In 2021, we surveyed 1807 rabbit owners, breeders, and rescue staff in the USA. Respondents had a high level of knowledge about RHDV2. Respondents believed RHDV2 posed a high risk to rabbit-related activities and were concerned about its economic and ecological impacts. Nearly half of respondents always kept their rabbits indoors, but 10.7% of respondents allowed their rabbits outside frequently on properties used by wild lagomorphs. Respondents with five rabbits or less were generally willing to vaccinate their rabbits, but respondents with larger herds argued that vaccines were cost prohibitive. Given respondents' concerns about RHDV2, communication about disease prevention should highlight the adverse ecological and economic consequences of RHDV2.

Raw Meat-Based Pet Feeding and Food Safety: Netnography Study of Pet Owner Comments and Review of Manufacturers' Information Provision.

ABSTRACT: Feeding raw meat to domestic pets is a popular practice. Because of the potential food safety implications associated with handling raw meat, concerns about pet owner health have increased. For this study, a netnographic content analysis approach was used to analyze posts from Pet Forums Community online archives related to raw meat-based feeding and food safety (n = 308). United Kingdom manufacturer and supplier Web sites (n = 33) were reviewed for provision of food safety information related to raw meat-based pet feeding. The data were analyzed using a qualitative thematic approach and quantitative methods. Pet owner forum comments indicated potential malpractices and indifference toward possible food safety hazards when preparing raw meat-based pet food. Many were risk aware but indicated confusion regarding appropriate food safety practices. Although emotional concern about the safety of pets and children was expressed, contracting a foodborne disease was not perceived as a personal risk. In addition, the review identified that most (61%) manufacturer and supplier Web sites failed to provide food safety instructions or warnings to pet owners regarding raw meat-based pet food. Information was inconsistent and varied across sources. The most comprehensive sources of information were provided by manufacturers approved by the United Kingdom Pet Food Manufacturers' Association. This is the first netnography study to explore pet owner online reports and the provision of food safety information related to raw pet feeding. Findings suggest pet owners may not fully appreciate the potential risks associated with raw meat-based pet feeding. Consequently, there is a need for credible and consistent strategies to inform pet owners about potential implications associated with feeding raw meat to pets, as well as about safe food handling practices.