<![CDATA[The growing popularity of raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) for pets has raised considerable concern regarding microbiological hazards due to the absence of heat treatment during production. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the microbiological quality of RMBDs and Wet pet food by assessing Total Viable Count (TVC), Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus aureus. Three RMBDs brands and one Wet pet food brand, derived from chicken and beef, were analyzed, with five samples collected from each. Microbial enumeration was performed using standard plate count methods. The mean TVC in chicken- and beef-based RMBDs was 3.9 × 10⁵ ± 5.6 × 10⁵ CFU/g and 2.7 × 10⁵ ± 3.0 × 10⁵ CFU/g, respectively, compared with 3.3 × 10² ± 2.6 × 10² CFU/g in wet pet food. The mean Enterobacteriaceae counts were 3.2 × 10⁴ ± 4.8 × 10⁴ CFU/g in chicken-based RMBDs, 2.8 × 10³ ± 2.6 × 10³ CFU/g in beef-based RMBDs, and 0 CFU/g in wet pet food. The average counts of S. aureus were 2.4 × 10⁴ ± 3.0 × 10⁴ CFU/g in chicken-based RMBDs and 2.1 × 10⁴ ± 5.6 × 10⁴ CFU/g in beef-based RMBDs, whereas no S. aureus was detected in wet pet food. Overall, RMBDs exhibited significantly higher microbial loads compared with Wet pet food and did not meet international microbiological safety standards. These findings highlight the potential public health and animal health risks associated with RMBDs consumption.]]>
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