The loss of life of an Oregon home cat and a pet meals recall are elevating questions concerning the ongoing outbreak of fowl flu and the way folks can defend their pets.
Bird flu has been spreading for years in wild birds, chickens, turkeys and many other animals. It was first confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in March.
The virus has been inflicting sporadic, largely mild illnesses in people within the U.S., and practically all of these contaminated labored on dairy or poultry farms. When the virus is discovered, each fowl on a farm is killed to restrict the unfold of the illness.
Oregon well being officers traced the cat’s sickness to frozen cat meals that contained uncooked turkey. Virus recovered from the recalled pet meals and the contaminated cat matched.
Some pet house owners feed their animals uncooked meat, however that may be harmful, even deadly for the animals, stated Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Cooking meat or pasteurizing uncooked milk destroys the fowl flu virus and different disease-causing germs.
“Raw milk, uncooked meat merchandise will be and are a vector for carrying this virus,” he stated.
Though circumstances of an infection are uncommon, cats appear particularly prone to the fowl flu virus, or Type A H5N1. Even earlier than the cattle outbreak, there have been feline circumstances linked to wild birds or poultry. Since March, dozens of cats have caught the virus. These embrace barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and large cats in zoos and within the wild.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating the deaths of 4 home cats that drank recalled uncooked milk.
Dogs appear to be much less weak than cats, however they need to eat solely completely cooked meals, Bailey stated.
Cats shouldn’t drink unpasteurized dairy merchandise or eat uncooked meat. Pet house owners ought to preserve cats away from wild birds, livestock and poultry.
Don’t allow them to wander freely within the open air, Bailey stated, “since you don’t know what they’re entering into. Cats are pure hunters, and one of many animals they like to hunt are birds.”
Avoid touching sick or useless birds your self. Thoroughly wash your fingers after dealing with poultry or animals.
Cats sick with fowl flu would possibly expertise lack of urge for food, lethargy and fever.
If your cat is often playful and likes to look out the window, however as an alternative has been sleeping on a regular basis or hiding from you, take observe, Bailey stated. “There’s one thing flawed,” he stated.
They may have reddened or infected eyes and discharge from the eyes and nostril. They might need issue respiration or have tremors or seizures.
If your cat is sick, name your veterinary clinic and preserve the cat away from anybody with a weakened immune system.
Northwest Naturals, a pet meals firm in Portland, Oregon, introduced a voluntary recall Tuesday of 1 batch of its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe uncooked frozen pet meals after it examined optimistic for the virus. The product was offered in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, in addition to Canada’s British Columbia.
The recalled meals has “greatest if utilized by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. Consumers ought to throw it away and get in touch with the place of buy for a refund.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely answerable for all content material.
