Veterinary

2016 SPRING EDITION

You can prevent Salmonella illness by 

shopping wisely, using proper storage 

and handling, and including good handwashing as part of your routine.

“

”

Pet Food, 

Salmonella, 

and You

News about Animal Health, Food Safety, and One Health.

Army Public Health Center

Control and Prevention 

(CDC) and the American 

Veterinary Medical 

Association (AVMA) 

discourage feeding 

pets raw or undercooked meat and egg 

diets due to the risk of 

food-borne illness to 

pets and their people. 

While pets provide many health 

benefits to you and your family, their 

pet food and treats may become 

contaminated with food-borne bacteria 

like Salmonella that can make both your 

pet and YOU sick. Salmonella can cause mild 

to severe and even life threatening illness 

with symptoms that include diarrhea, fever, 

and abdominal cramps. Those at greater 

risk for severe illness include children under 

5 years old, people 65 years and older, and 

individuals with weakened immune systems. 

You can prevent Salmonella illness by 

shopping wisely, using proper storage and 

handling, and including good hand-washing 

as part of your routine.

There are many different pet foods and treats 

to choose from these days. Dry, canned, 

pouches, fresh cooked, frozen, and raw food 

options abound. Both the Centers for Disease >> CONT. ON PAGE TWO

P1 / PET SAFETY

Pet Food, Salmonella, 

and You.

P2 / PET POISONS

Could your diet kill 

your dog? 

P3 / FOOD SAFETY

BREAKING NEWS: The 

Easter Bunny supports egg 

safety!

P4 / FOOD SAFETY

Farmers Market Food 

Safety. 
P2

When buying food and treats for your pets, 

check the package to make sure there are no 

rips, tears, holes, or discolorations. Don’t buy 

dented canned food as the dent may have 

affected the seams in the can. Make sure to 

check for the “Best By” date or “Use By” date 

on the package or can.

If possible, store pet food and treats in a 

separate area from where you store human 

food. Dry food and treats should be stored 

in a cool, dry place, under 80 degrees F, 

in the original bag, folded over, preferably 

inside a dedicated plastic container with a 

lid. This will help keep it from getting stale 

and importantly, keep small children from 

getting into it. Be sure to promptly refrigerate 

leftover wet pet food, such as food in cans 

and pouches.

When it is feeding time, try to feed your 

pet outside of the kitchen area. Keep small 

children 5 years old and younger away from 

pet feeding areas so that they don’t put pet 

food or pet food contaminated fingers into 

their mouths. It is also wise for children to 

be away from pets while they are eating to 

avoid the risk of bites. Be sure everyone who 

has been in contact with the pet food and 

treats washes their hands directly afterwards. 

When washing pet bowls and water dishes, 

avoid using the kitchen sink or bathtub. 

Clean up continues with proper disposal of 

pet waste, which should be put in a sealed 

plastic bag and thrown away in the outside 

garbage. Always wash your hands right away!

Remember, to help keep ALL of your family 

members, human and animal, safe from 

Salmonella and other pet food or treat 

food-borne diseases, shop wisely, store 

appropriately, handle safely, clean up 

promptly, and always wash hands when 

finished.

For more information:

Salmonella and dry pet food -

http://www.cdc.gov/features/

salmonelladrypetfood/ 

When and how to wash your hands - 

http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/whenhow-handwashing.html 

Pet Food, Salmonella, and You

>> CONT. FROM PAGE ONE

Xylitol is a sugar substitute commonly used in sugarless gum, children’s chewable multi-vitamins, 

oral care products, and a variety of nut butters (such as peanut butter, sunflower butter; check the 

brand ingredients before feeding to pets). It is also used in many dietary baked goods and candies. 

Xylitol-containing products are recommended for diabetics and those following low-carbohydrate 

diets. However, xylitol is extremely dangerous to your dog. If you see “naturally sweetened” or 

“natural sweetener” promoted on the product, check the ingredients for “xylitol” or its chemical 

classification, “sugar alcohol.”

The effects of xylitol in your dog can be seen within 30 minutes of ingestion and can be very 

severe. In some cases xylitol has resulted in acute liver failure. Only a couple of sticks of xylitol gum 

can be toxic to a 20-pound dog.

For additional information please visit:

https://www.avma.org/News/JAVMANews/Pages/061001b.aspx

https://www.aspca.org/

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm244076.htm

Could your diet kill your dog?
P3

As the new spring season approaches, families around the world celebrate 

the Easter holiday with the tradition of egg dying and egg hunts.

Always keep fresh eggs under refrigeration at 40°F/4.4°C and 

below until the eggs are ready for boiling. Ensure the eggs are 

“hard boiled.” 

Breaking News: The Easter Bunny supports 

egg safety!

In the excitement that holiday traditions bring into the home, it is 

very easy to overlook the basics of egg safety, increasing the risk of 

consuming eggs that are contaminated with Salmonella enteriditis (SE). 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety (USDA) 

Inspection Service, bacteria can be on the outside of an egg shell. That’s 

because the egg exits the hen’s body through the same passageway 

as feces are excreted. It is also possible for eggs to become infected by 

SE-fecal contamination through the pores of the shell after the egg is 

laid. SE can be inside an uncracked, whole egg, too. Contamination of 

eggs may be due to bacteria within the hen’s reproductive tract before 

the shell forms around the yolk and white. This is why it is important 

to handle fresh eggs very carefully and ensure proper cooking and 

temperature control.

Keep fresh eggs under refrigeration at 40° fahrenheit /4.4° celsius and 

below until the eggs are ready for boiling. Ensure the eggs are “hard 

boiled.” When dying eggs, a good rule of thumb is to keep the process 

under 2 hours after boiling and place the eggs back in refrigeration. 

If boiled and dyed eggs are used for display and egg hunts, keep the 

time out of refrigeration to not more than 2 hours. After an egg hunt, 

wash and sanitize the outside of the egg to remove contamination 

that could be present from soil and contact with unclean hands and 

pets. Consumers should consider plastic egg shells with prizes as an 

alternative to boiled eggs for egg hunts.

For additional consumer information on egg safety, visit the USDA – 

Food Safety Inspection Service website. 

Product safety fact sheets are available for download: http://www.

fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/getanswers/food-safety-fact-sheets/egg-products-preparation/shelleggs-from-farm-to-table/ct_index

When dying eggs, a good rule 

of thumb is to keep the process 

under two hours after boiling 

and place the eggs back in 

refrigeration. 
Farmers Market 

Food Safety

It is the exciting time of year when farmers 

begin to plan the spring harvest to produce 

fresh fruits, vegetables and other food products 

for community Farmers Markets. 

We learn from an early age that fresh food 

contains more natural nutrients and can 

support a healthy lifestyle through inclusion 

into daily diets. Unlike the majority of grocery 

store foods, Farmers Markets avail a variety of 

freshly harvested, often the same day, fruits 

and vegetables, dairy, and other farm-fresh 

products. The first thing to remember is 

fresh food does not mean safe food. Farmfresh products are not always handled and 

processed the same way as bulk grocery 

store products, to include washing and 

sanitizing. Therefore, prepare and keep the 

following tips in mind as you make your 

“fresh decisions”:

• Head to the Farmers Markets early to 

avoid produce that has been sitting out 

all day long.

• Buy loose produce rather than 

packaged; you will have more control 

over what you select.

• Bag fresh produce separately from 

meat, poultry, and seafood products.

• Be sure to ask whether fresh juice has 

been pasteurized or processed to kill 

bacteria.

• Buy only refrigerated eggs.

• Refrigerate foods promptly.

• Always look for the Safe Food Handling 

label on meat packages. 

• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly 

under running water just before eating.

For additional information on Farmers Market 

food safety, visit the USDA website and 

download the DOD Farmers Market Guide: 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/

files/media/USDA%20Farmers%20

Markets%20on%20Military%20

Installations.pdf. 

You can also visit the Army Public Health 

Center (Provisional) website and download 

food safety brochures specifically published 

for consumers: https://usaphcapps.amedd.

army.mil/HIOShoppingCart/searchResults.

aspx?c=0&s=0&f=0&l=0&t=farmers

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited. TA-349-0316 APHC Veterinary Services

Goal of publication:

• Veterinary Connections is a quarterly publication written by Army 

Veterinary Services personnel and published by the Army Public 

Health Center (Provisional) to inform and educate Service members, 

beneficiaries, and retirees about Animal Health, Food Safety, and 

One Health.

• One Health refers to the intersection and overlap between animals, 

humans, and the environment. 

• Army Veterinary Services personnel serve around the world 

supporting the Department of Defense as proponents for Animal 

Health and Food Protection.

Veterinary

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not 

necessarily reflect the official policy of the Department of Defense, Department 

of the Army, U.S. Army Medical Department or the U.S. 

Comments or questions regarding content can be 

directed to ARMY-VSPublications@mail.mil

Locate your local Veterinary 

Treatment Facility at

https://tiny.army.mil/r/JG66r/VTFs

http://phc.amedd.army.mil

1-800-222-9698