Although the concept of eating dog meat is
completely unheard of in the U.S., in other parts
of the world, it is regarded just the same as
eating chicken or cow. In Vietnam, for example,
approximately five million dogs are killed every
year for meat, other places dog meat is eaten
include Europe, Russia, Africa, Latin America,
China, the Philippines, and South Korea.
While the suffering of these animals is
undeniable, there are also major human health
concerns arising from the consumption of dog.
The issues highlighted are critical concerns that
could have a negative impact on human health if
they are not addressed by ending the
consumption of dog meat.
1. Rabies
One of the largest dangers of dog meat is the
spread of rabies to both animals and people.
According to the Center for Disease Control’s
records, only 10 people have ever survived this
horrific disease. This is clearly a major concern
when such a dangerous and deadly disease can
be so easily spread.
2. Other Diseases
There are many other diseases and infections
associated with dog meat that can endanger
human health. Possible infections include
parasites such as E. Coli 107 and salmonella.
There is also a danger that bacterial infections
like anthrax, brucellosis, hepatitis, and
leptospirosis can be spread through the meat to
people. The bacteria associated with Cholera is
also easily spread and propagated through the
process of mass transporting and slaughtering
dogs for consumption. Trichinellosis is a
zoonotic parasite that can be easily transmitted
from dogs to humans through infected meat
consumption. Once these parasites are in the
human body, they can cause inflammation in
blood vessels which leads to hemorrhaging in
the nail beds and eyes, in addition to severe
muscle weakness. If left untreated, trichinellosis
can be fatal.
3. Antibiotic Resistance
There are many parallels to be found between
dog meat farms and factory farms in America,
unfortunately, antibiotic resistance is one of
them. According to Change for Animals
Foundation, “On dog farms, large numbers of
dogs are living in close confinement, under
stressful conditions, and are usually being fed
insufficient, poor quality food. These factors
result in increased levels of infectious disease
and high mortality rates. In an effort to try to
control the spread of disease and maximize
productivity, there is evidence of farmers
resorting to the indiscriminate overuse of
antibiotics and vaccines.”
