Raw Pet Food Linked to House Cat with Bird Flu
Friends and Neighbors,
The passing of a house cat in Oregon, along with a pet food recall, has brought attention to the ongoing spread of bird flu and how pet owners can safeguard their animals. “While we have not seen any bird flu cases at BLVD, we recommend taking precautions against this emerging disease by feeding cooked foods and keeping cats indoors so they are not exposed to sick wildlife,” says BLVD Vet River North Medical Director, Dr. Erin Newman.
Bird flu was detected in dairy cattle in the U.S. in March 2024, with the virus causing occasional, mild infections in humans. Nearly all human cases have been linked to individuals working on poultry or dairy farms.
Oregon health officials identified the cat’s illness as being linked to frozen cat food containing raw turkey. Testing revealed that the bird flu virus found in the recalled pet food matched the strain found in the infected cat.
We do not recommend feeding your pets raw food as it comes with serious risks. Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, emphasizes that raw diets can even be fatal for pets. Cooking meat or pasteurizing raw milk effectively eliminates the Bird Flu virus and other harmful pathogens. “Raw milk, raw meat products can be and are a vector for carrying this virus,” Dr. Bailey stated.
The FDA has cautioned pet owners against feeding raw foods. “If you’re not sure of the origin of your products, it’s safest to thoroughly cook or pasteurize it to inactivate the virus,” said FDA spokesperson, Janell Goodwin, in a statement.
Are Pets at Risk of Contracting Bird Flu?
Though pet infections remain rare, cats are particularly vulnerable to the bird flu virus. Prior to the outbreak in cattle, there were reports of felines contracting the virus from exposure to wild birds or poultry. Since March, several dozen cats have been infected, including those living indoors, feral cats, barn cats, and even larger felines like zoo animals and wild big cats.
Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health are investigating the deaths of four house cats that consumed unpasteurized, recalled raw milk.
Although dogs seem to be less susceptible than cats, they should also be fed only fully cooked foods to reduce any risk of infection.
How Can You Protect Your Pet From Bird Flu?
Avoid feeding your pet raw meat or unpasteurized milk.
Keep your pet away from wild birds, poultry, and livestock.
Prevent your pet from wandering outdoors where contact with birds increases their risk of exposure.
Refrain from touching sick or deceased birds directly, and always wash your hands thoroughly after handling poultry or animals.
Symptoms of Bird Flu
If your pet develops the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately:
Sneezing and coughing
Fever
Lethargy
Runny nose or eyes
Loss of appetite
Pet Food Recall Information
Northwest Naturals, a Portland-based pet food manufacturer, has issued a voluntary recall of a batch of its Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food. This recall was announced after the product tested positive for bird flu. The affected food was distributed across several U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, as well as British Columbia, Canada.
There have been no cases of Bird Flu in any BLVD patients. If your pet presents any of the mentioned symptoms, contact us for more information or to schedule a visit. We hope you find these tips useful and that they help keep your pets happy and healthy.
Sincerely,
The BLVD Team