In a recent study, dogs fed undercooked meat were more likely to pass antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their stool. Surface contamination then increases the risk of the bacteria spreading to people, making some infections tougher to treat.
The major cause of antibiotic resistance is overuse of antibiotics. Inappropriate antibiotic use in livestock can increase antibiotic resistance in their normal bacterial flora, which then extends to their meat. In this study, antibiotic-resistant E. coli [Ē. CŌ-lī] were more often found in the stool of dogs fed raw or undercooked meat.
That’s why the American Veterinary Medical Association discourages feeding raw animal protein to dogs and cats. Thoroughly cooking the protein helps avoid the problem.