31/01/2025
In the increasing concerns for the spread of Avian influenza, we wanted to inform owners how to keep their pets safe. If you have an animal that hunts, explores outside, or has the chance at coming in contact with a bird they are at risk. Animals that consume birds can contact Avian influenza.
Pets that are fed a raw diet or a chicken based diet, take extra precautions in making sure all chicken is cooked thoroughly.
Below are a list of possible ways to contract H5N1, clinical signs, and ways to prevent your pet from contracting it.
How do pets become infected?
Recent investigations implicate food as a source of infection for cats, most often unpasteurized milk and raw or undercooked meat (e.g., poultry). Other potential sources include:
Raw colostrum and other unpasteurized dairy products (like cream)
Exposure to infected wild birds or poultry
Exposure to people who work on affected farms and to their clothing or other fomites
What are the clinical signs of H5N1 in pets?
Illness may start with loss of appetite, lethargy, and fever, then quickly progress, with cats exhibiting:
Neurologic signs (e.g., ataxia, circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness)
Severe depression
Copious oculonasal discharge
Other respiratory signs, including tachypnea, dyspnea, and possibly sneezing or coughing
How can H5N1 infection be prevented in cats?
Cat owners and caretakers are urged to follow these tips:
Refrain from feeding cats any dairy products or colostrum that have not first been pasteurized or thoroughly cooked to kill the virus.
Thoroughly cook meat before feeding, and avoid feeding raw meat-based treats or diets.
Keep cats indoors to prevent exposure to birds and other wildlife.
Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and other wildlife yourself.
Keep cats away from livestock, poultry, and their environments, especially in areas with known H5N1 outbreaks.
Take steps to prevent contact between captive big cats and wild birds (e.g., covering enclosures with netting and removing bird attractants nearby) in areas where H5N1 is circulating.
Thoroughly wash your hands after handling your cat and after any encounters with poultry, livestock, or wild birds and other animals.
Change your clothes and shoes, and thoroughly wash any exposed skin, after interacting with sick or dead animals that may harbor the H5N1 virus, and before interacting with your cat.
Immediately contact your veterinarian if you notice signs of H5N1 or think your cat might have been exposed to the virus.
