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You’ve possible seen the unsettling information in regards to the current 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 instances of hen 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 pals?
Can Canine Get Fowl 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 danger 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 instructing hospital.
In response to Dr. Hohenhaus, “There have been no confirmed instances of canine contracting hen 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 canine. Hamsters are additionally prone.”
What Are The Indicators Of Fowl 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 lifeless hen or hen droppings, monitor for indicators of sickness — comparable to lethargy, fever, respiratory points, or modifications of their conduct — and make contact with your veterinarian if any of those indicators are current.”
In response to the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, you must 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 canine. Nonetheless, signs in both species might 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 present, 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 the event you’re caring for a cat or canine with hen 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 illnesses from animals). And well being consultants have gotten more and more involved about reverse zoonosis in pets (when people transmit infectious illnesses to their pets). Be taught extra in my article about current analysis into reverse zoonosis.
Is Uncooked Pet Meals A Threat?
“Avian influenza is transmitted via contact with saliva, mucous, or feces from contaminated birds,” explains Dr. Hohenhaus. “Nonetheless, consumption of contaminated meat or milk has been implicated in feline instances of avian influenza.” A number of home cats have sadly died in California, Colorado, and Oregon on account of their house owners feeding them uncooked meat or unpasteurized milk merchandise that had been later recalled. These instances concerned the producers Northwest Naturals and Monarch Uncooked Pet Meals.
New FDA Laws
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, comparable to pasteurization, that may tremendously scale back or get rid of the chance of hen flu spreading via animal meals. Moreover, it advises firms to supply meat, milk, or eggs from wholesome flocks or herds.
Scientific data is evolving, however at the moment it’s identified that H5N1 might be transmitted to cats and canine 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, comparable to pasteurizing, cooking or canning. Cats (home and huge felids) particularly can expertise extreme sickness or loss of life from an infection with H5N1. Canine can even contract H5N1, though they often exhibit delicate scientific indicators and low mortality in comparison with cats. At current, H5N1 has not been detected in canine in america, however there have been deadly instances in different nations.
- FDA Replace, January 17, 2025
Is There An H5N1 Vaccine?
At present, there’s no H5N1 vaccine for canine 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. In response to TIME, scientists aren’t ready for that to occur and are engaged on an up to date H5N1 vaccination for people.
At current, the out there vaccines goal totally different strains of H5N1 that had been prevalent on the time of their growth years in the past. Nonetheless, well being consultants consider these vaccines should still supply some degree of safety in opposition to extreme sickness. In July 2024, the U.S. authorities’s Biomedical Superior Analysis and Improvement 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 Ideas To Preserve Your Pet Canine & Cats Protected
Dr. Hohenhaus and her staff at AMC have a number of tricks to shield your furry pals. It is a growing scenario, however the next easy precautions will help preserve pets secure.
- Keep away from feeding uncooked meat or dairy. Uncooked or undercooked meat, significantly poultry, is usually a supply of an infection for cats. Unpasteurized dairy merchandise additionally pose a danger.
- Preserve cats indoors to restrict publicity to wildlife.
- Whereas the chance to canine is much less clear, it’s finest to preserve all pets away from lifeless animals, livestock, wildlife, and their waste.
- Canine house owners ought to instruct their canine to keep away from contact with lifeless birds and hen droppings.
- In case your pet reveals indicators of sickness, comparable to lethargy, fever, or respiratory points, comparable to nasal discharge, sneezing, and coughing, please contact your veterinarian.
The AVMA additionally recommends that, earlier than interacting with their pets, house owners ought to change garments and sneakers and totally wash any uncovered pores and skin after contact with sick or lifeless animals which will harbor the H5N1 virus.
Though the chance to home canine appears minimal (to date), it’s so necessary to take precautions. As consultants say, this zoonitic illness remains to be evolving. It’s also possible to discover some useful security suggestions in my article about COVID and canine.
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 illnesses consultants, 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 situations and remedy for over a decade. Sally is a part of a staff of canine professionals and long-time canine house owners who keep on prime of essentially the most useful analysis, finest merchandise, and extra for our personal pups and people of all of our readers.
