01/14/2025
☢️H5N1 HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) and Pet Safety
You may have been hearing about bird flu lately, so it’s important to get the facts. H5N1 HPAI is a zoonotic virus that affects not just birds, but dairy cattle, cats, dogs, horses, and humans. It primarily targets the respiratory system but can also cause gastrointestinal and neurological issues, sometimes leading to death.
While most human-related info is available through public health sources (linked at the end), let’s focus on the risk to our pets. A recent recall of Northwest Naturals Turkey raw food in December 2024 was linked to a confirmed case of H5N1 in a domestic cat, which sadly resulted in the cat’s death. This cat had no exposure to wild or domestic birds. If you feed your pet this food, check the lot numbers: 5/21/26 B10 or 06/23/26 B1. If you have them, stop feeding it immediately and monitor your pet for signs like lethargy, loss of appetite, or more severe symptoms like fever or bleeding.
If you suspect exposure, contact your vet immediately. Early intervention can save lives, but please notify the clinic of the potential exposure to ensure proper precautions.
Key Precautions:
❗️Avoid contact with sick or dead animals, and keep pets away from them, especially wild birds. H5N1 spreads via secretions and f***s.
❗️Don’t bring sick wildlife into your home. If you encounter sick animals, report them to local authorities (see links below).
❗️Practice safe food handling—wash surfaces and utensils after handling raw food, and cook it to an internal temp of 165°F (74°C) to kill the virus and harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.
Don’t panic—unless your pet has been exposed to the recalled food or wild birds, the risk of infection is low. But if you do feed raw food, be cautious, as freezing and freeze-drying may preserve viruses. Remember, cooking eliminates the risks.
For more info, consult reliable sources like the links below, not internet rumors.
The CDC – This is the place for people with backyard poultry, bird enthusiasts, and hunters to find info relevant to them - https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/groups/
The Government of Canada – This is the place to find the latest information -- https://inspection.canada.ca/.../latest-bird-flu-situation --
This is general information on prevention and risk management -- https://www.canada.ca/.../avian.../prevention-risks.html
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association – Information about raw food diets -- https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/.../safety-of.../...
Worms and Germs Blog – A great resource for a lot of information, but this is the link to H5N1 HPAI and raw food specifically -- https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/.../h5n1-influenza-raw.../