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You’ve seemingly seen the unsettling information in regards to the latest outbreak of extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), particularly H5N1, which has jumped species from birds to dairy cows, wild mammals, and even people. However do you know our pets are in danger, too?
For the reason that U.S. outbreak of H5N1 in dairy cattle started in March 2024, dozens of cats are identified to have contracted the virus. And since 2022, there have been 74 confirmed circumstances of fowl flu in home cats reported to the U.S. Division of Agriculture and 1 case confirmed in a canine in Canada. How fearful ought to we be for our furry buddies?
Can Canine Get Chook Flu?
I talked to an professional, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, senior veterinarian at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Middle (AMC) in New York Metropolis, about HPAI and the threat for our canine and feline companions. Dr. Ann Hohenhaus additionally serves as director of pet well being data and oncology specialist at AMC, the world’s largest veterinary educating hospital.
Based on Dr. Hohenhaus, “There have been no confirmed circumstances of canines contracting fowl flu within the U.S., however there’s been one reported case in Canada” (as of January 15, 2025). “The canine chewed on a wild goose, bought sick, and died,” she shares. “Cats appear to be extra prone to avian influenza than canines. Hamsters are additionally prone.”
What Are The Indicators Of Chook Flu In Pets?
“Respiratory and neurologic indicators are commonest in cats, and the canine in Canada had respiratory indicators,” explains Dr. Hohenhaus. “In case your canine does come into contact with a useless fowl or fowl droppings, monitor for indicators of sickness — akin to lethargy, fever, respiratory points, or adjustments of their habits — and phone your veterinarian if any of those indicators are current.”
Based on the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, it is best to search veterinary care in case your cat or canine seems to have any of the next indicators. Scientific indicators of HPAI an infection in cats are higher identified than in canines. Nonetheless, signs in both species could embrace:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Low urge for food
- Reddened or infected eyes
- Discharge from the eyes and nostril
- Problem respiratory
- Neurologic indicators, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness
Can People Contract H5N1 From Pets?
“At the moment, there doesn’t look like human to canine/cat or canine/cat to human transmission of the virus,” says Dr. Hohenhaus. Nonetheless, taking precautions and defending your self is essential in case you’re caring for a cat or canine with fowl flu. She recommends frequent handwashing with cleaning soap and water, sporting a masks, and defending your eyes from sneezes and coughs of a sick animal.
There’s a protracted historical past of viruses mutating over time and turning into zoonitic (when people contract infectious ailments from animals). And well being specialists have gotten more and more involved about reverse zoonosis in pets (when people transmit infectious ailments to their pets). Be taught extra in my article about latest analysis into reverse zoonosis.
Is Uncooked Pet Meals A Threat?
“Avian influenza is transmitted by way of contact with saliva, mucous, or feces from contaminated birds,” explains Dr. Hohenhaus. “Nonetheless, consumption of contaminated meat or milk has been implicated in feline circumstances of avian influenza.” A number of home cats have sadly died in California, Colorado, and Oregon on account of their homeowners feeding them uncooked meat or unpasteurized milk merchandise that have been later recalled. These circumstances concerned the producers Northwest Naturals and Monarch Uncooked Pet Meals.
New FDA Rules
On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a brand new replace for regulated cat and pet food producers who promote raw or unpasteurized merchandise. The up to date regulation requires these producers to reanalyze meals security plans to account for HPAI (particularly H5N1) as a hazard. Uncooked meals embrace raw meat, unpasteurized milk, and unpasteurized eggs.
The FDA is urging pet meals producers and people concerned within the provide chain to undertake strategies, akin to pasteurization, that may drastically scale back or eradicate the danger of fowl flu spreading by way of animal meals. Moreover, it advises corporations to supply meat, milk, or eggs from wholesome flocks or herds.
Scientific data is evolving, however presently it’s identified that H5N1 could be transmitted to cats and canines once they eat merchandise from contaminated poultry or cattle (e.g., unpasteurized milk, raw meat, or unpasteurized eggs) that haven’t undergone a processing step that’s able to inactivating the virus, akin to pasteurizing, cooking or canning. Cats (home and enormous felids) particularly can expertise extreme sickness or dying from an infection with H5N1. Canine also can contract H5N1, though they normally exhibit gentle medical indicators and low mortality in comparison with cats. At current, H5N1 has not been detected in canines in america, however there have been deadly circumstances in different international locations.
- FDA Replace, January 17, 2025
Is There An H5N1 Vaccine?
At the moment, there’s no H5N1 vaccine for canines or different animals. Whereas there isn’t any proof of human-to-human transmission of H5N1, there’s nonetheless an opportunity that the virus may mutate right into a pressure that spreads amongst folks. Based on TIME, scientists aren’t ready for that to occur and are engaged on an up to date H5N1 vaccination for people.
At current, the obtainable vaccines goal totally different strains of H5N1 that have been prevalent on the time of their improvement years in the past. Nonetheless, well being specialists consider these vaccines should still provide some degree of safety in opposition to extreme sickness. In July 2024, the U.S. authorities’s Biomedical Superior Analysis and Growth Authority (BARDA) granted Moderna $176 million to work on an up to date mRNA H5N1 vaccine. All mRNA vaccine candidates are within the preliminary phases of testing for security and efficacy in people.
5 Suggestions To Preserve Your Pet Canine & Cats Protected
Dr. Hohenhaus and her crew at AMC have a number of tricks to shield your furry buddies. It is a creating scenario, however the next easy precautions can assist preserve pets secure.
- Keep away from feeding uncooked meat or dairy. Uncooked or undercooked meat, significantly poultry, generally is a supply of an infection for cats. Unpasteurized dairy merchandise additionally pose a threat.
- Preserve cats indoors to restrict publicity to wildlife.
- Whereas the danger to canines is much less clear, it’s finest to preserve all pets away from useless animals, livestock, wildlife, and their waste.
- Canine homeowners ought to instruct their canines to keep away from contact with useless birds and fowl droppings.
- In case your pet exhibits indicators of sickness, akin to lethargy, fever, or respiratory points, akin to nasal discharge, sneezing, and coughing, please contact your veterinarian.
The AVMA additionally recommends that, earlier than interacting with their pets, homeowners ought to change garments and sneakers and totally wash any uncovered pores and skin after contact with sick or useless animals which will harbor the H5N1 virus.
Though the danger to home canines appears minimal (to this point), it’s so vital to take precautions. As specialists say, this zoonitic illness continues to be evolving. It’s also possible to discover some helpful security ideas in my article about COVID and canines.
Why Belief Canine Journal?
As a public relations specialist on the College of Virginia Well being System, Sally served on the H1N1 swine flu preparedness committee to find out how the well being system would tackle the pandemic in its hospital and past. Committee members included worldwide infectious ailments specialists, hospital management, a World Well being Group member, and others. She has additionally been researching and writing about human well being for almost 30 years and has been an professional on pet well being circumstances and therapy for over a decade. Sally is a part of a crew of canine professionals and long-time canine homeowners who keep on high of probably the most useful analysis, finest merchandise, and extra for our personal pups and people of all of our readers.
