Raw Feeding Safetey?

[barneysmom2510]

I do what everyone else does I handle it the same way I handle raw meat for my family. I am not overly paranoid about bacteria doesn't hurt to get exposed to it in small doses. Besides if we did swabs of most of the surfaces in our house you would probably be pretty grossed out and the bacteria from the raw meat is the least gross thing you will find. I use all natural cleaners to clean it up. As far as kisses once Barney's lips are dry let the kissing begin.

[JoeynZoey]

I am a very clean and healthy living individual, especially around the residence, I just couldn't tolerate a messy and dirty living environment. That doesn't mean that you'll find me in a jump suit with long rubber gloves and a mask preparing zoey's meals ;) I simply sanitize regularly where traffic and germs do accumulate daily, and wipe down areas with natural cleaning solutions. So when it comes to feeding zoey her raw meals, I used to feed her outside more often, but since it's winter I'll feed her inside on her food stand in the dinning room, where the floor is wooden. I simply wipe down the area with disinfecting wipes if she drags out any pieces onto the floor, and if not, I move on to wash her bowl with hot water and regular dish soap.

As far as handling the raw meats, I do take them out of the butcher wrappings and package them into appropriate zip loc freezer bags if necessary. When sorting them out and handling them on the counter, I certainly wipe the counter area down with a disinfecting wipe or two immediately afterwords. I thaw mostly in the fridge, but when I forget to thaw certain pieces, I'll allow it to thaw in the sink (still in the zip loc bag) under hot water for a few minutes and than continue to thaw it in the sink long enough, just so that I can break it off for the portion that I'll be needing.
I personally don't allow kisses onto my face ever, unless she happens to slip one or two when I am really hugging her :p

[shellbell]

I feel like I'm not super particular about things. I will cut and prep things on my kitchen counter, and when I'm done I just spray some vinegar and wipe it down. I don't have seperate knives/cutting boards for the dogs, I just clean what I use when I am finished. My dogs lick my face at least once a day. Tux licks me on the lips.

And as far as choking, our scariest choking incident involved beef heart, not anything that even had bone in it.

[xellil]

I never use anti-bacterial anything. I even carry regular soap in my purse so if I see a dispenser with orange soap in a public bathroom I can use my own.

I see antibacterials along the same lines as dry dog food - a marketing success to rake in the dough when in fact it's probably doing more harm than good.

I'm not that clean at home, either. I clean everything with Comet, basically. I rinse my cutting board off with water now and then. And sometimes not.

I wash my hands a disgustingly small number of times a day.

I haven't had the flu or a cold for as long as I can remember. I've never had a flu or pneumonia shot. I sometimes get bronchitis once a year but some years I don't.

I think we are way too worried about germs.

[Itty bitty Kitty]

I never use anti-bacterial anything. I even carry regular soap in my purse so if I see a dispenser with orange soap in a public bathroom I can use my own.

I see antibacterials along the same lines as dry dog food - a marketing success to rake in the dough when in fact it's probably doing more harm than good.

I'm not that clean at home, either. I clean everything with Comet, basically. I rinse my cutting board off with water now and then. And sometimes not.

I wash my hands a disgustingly small number of times a day.

I haven't had the flu or a cold for as long as I can remember. I've never had a flu or pneumonia shot. I sometimes get bronchitis once a year but some years I don't.

I think we are way too worried about germs.

Thanks for the input. The more I'm reading the responses I'm getting,the more everything makes more sense and admittedly, feel a bit silly lol. However I'm glad at all the information I'm getting and am very grateful. Funny enough I'm actually not a germaphobe. I was often told by others ( specifically other dog owners I know) to be careful about handling raw food so I figured I'd get some clarification as well as get educated :)

[Mondo]

I have to admit, I wash my hands frequently while dealing with raw meat, be it for us or the dogs. People have commented on it .. I swear I'm not OCD tho'!

My boys do eat outside when it is bones -- wings or necks mainly. Yeah, even when it is very cold (-40). I have a little carpet on the outside porch that Toby eats on. Tuffy grabs his boney meal and has to eat under the tree in the yard. No matter the weather. Inside if it is boneless, they have stainless steel bowls, which get washed regularly but not daily. Toby does a pretty good job licking them out.