Pet owners warned of huge 'red flag' after high bacteria levels found in common food

Pet owners have been alerted of a major "red flag" after high levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria were found in commonly available food for dogs.

A new study conducted at the University of Bristol raised the alarm after testing 58 samples of raw beef, pork, chicken and lamb sold at grocery stores across the UK as well as 15 samples of raw dog food available at "specialty" pet shops.

Researchers found that 80 percent of the meat samples and 87 percent of the raw dog food samples contained traces of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia Coli (E. Coli).

Presenting their findings at Barcelona's European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress, the study authors said: "This study confirms that uncooked meat carries multiple resistant E. coli, commonly including resistance to critically important antibiotics important for human health."

Co-author Prof. Matthew B. Avison noted that, if ingested, the bacteria could colonise the intestines and trigger severe infections not treatable with antibiotics.

Prof Avison told Fox News Digital: "They can sit in your gut for years without causing sickness, and in some cases the bacteria will cause different types of disease later on, including urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections that can kill.

"Infections with resistant bacteria are more difficult to treat and so are more likely to get worse."

The academic noted past studies had shown meat sold at grocery stores often appeared to be contaminated by bacteria such as E. Coli.

But he noted the new findings dispelled the belief that raw dog food would not be contaminated because it is usually sold frozen.

He added: "People often believe that because raw dog food is sold frozen, the freezing kills the bacteria, but we have shown that it does not.

"There were just as many samples of chicken-based raw dog food contaminated with resistant E. coli than there were samples of raw chicken meat.

"If you feed your dog raw meat, therefore, you are likely feeding it antibiotic resistant E. coli."

He warned the contaminated meat could cause considerable health issues to dogs, including urinary tract infections as well as blood infections.

Prof. Avison added: "Treat all raw meat as if it were contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and assume dogs fed raw meat will be excreting resistant bacteria.

He recommended: "Don't let your dog lick your face or share your bed, and wash your hands after petting it.

"These are all common sense practices anyway, but even more important if you raw-feed your dog."