As H5N1 avian influenza spreads across the U.S., pet owners have been cautioned to take extra measures.
Also known as bird flu, the outbreak affects poultry, cows, and humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the confirmed human cases are 67.
The detection of bird flu in domestic cats is most concerning. Scientific American reports that positive results were gathered in California, Kansas, Louisiana, and Iowa.
The findings prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to alert raw pet food manufacturers, ordering them to update their food safety plans to include bird flu.
How Cats Get Infected With Bird Flu
Scientific American notes that most infections are reported on dairy farms, possibly because cats share space with infected cows and drink milk contaminated with the virus.
Domesticated and stray cats can also get poisoned by birds or small animals they prey on.
Felines that spend most of their time indoors are also not safe from exposure. Consuming raw milk or meat from an infected animal could spread the virus.
Cause For Pet Parents to be Concerned?
Epidemiologist Meghan Davis says pets are difficult to track; no state or federal regulations monitor their health.
Davis adds that concerned pet owners should be aware of potential exposure to their furry friends. Firstly, don’t feed them raw milk or raw foods prepared at home.
Secondly, cats are at risk, especially when unsupervised and hunting infected animals.
While no cases of avian influenza have been reported in domestic dogs, Davis cautions that dogs interacting with waterbirds may face a higher risk of H5N1 exposure.
FDA Guidance on Raw Pet Food
In light of the outbreak, the FDA advised pet food suppliers to source ingredients from healthy animals and use heat treatment to inactivate viruses.
The agency advocated for pet owners to cook raw pet food to prevent H5N1 spread. It urged consumers to consider the health risks of feeding pets raw food.
While not mandatory, the FDA’s guidance helps companies set pet food safety measures, including raw food warning labels.
Meanwhile, pet owners should stock up on pet health supplies, medical supplies and pet care products to ensure overall well-being and peace of mind.
Alternative Options to Raw Pet Food
Since the FDA guidance was issued, dog and cat owners have been scrambling to find alternatives. Dry, semi-moist and canned food are commercially manufactured and just as effective.
For people who want to continue to feed their pets raw freeze-dried food, Dr Jane Sykes, a professor of small animal internal medicine, suggests cooking it before serving it to their pets.
While there is no cure for bird flu in felines, PetMD says nutritional support is important if your cat is diagnosed.
Your veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic in a topical spray, chewable tablets or oral drops. The treatment focuses on supportive care to manage the symptoms.
PetRx suggests inquiring with a pet food company that ships prescription medications to avoid the hassle of doing it yourself. Some stores go as far as contacting your vet directly for prescription approval.
Preventative Measures
The chances of your fur baby contracting bird flu are slim. However, you should take preventative measures.
Ensuring your fur baby has a well-balanced nutritional diet is the best start for optimum health. Pet supplements such as probiotics and gut health add-ons help prevent illness, and disease and encourage overall health.
No Outdoor Play
Another measure you can take is to keep your pets indoors, especially cats. When they are outside, they should not be unsupervised.
According to the American Bird Conservancy, cats kill about 2.4 billion birds annually. If your kitty gets hold of an infected bird, the chances of them contracting bird flu increase greatly.
No Raw Milk and Food
Avoid giving your cat raw milk, specifically dairy milk. It causes an upset tummy and is high in fat.
Despite the consensus that cats love milk, many are lactose intolerant, Green Matters quotes veterinarian Sara Witherell as saying.
Essential unprocessed, raw pet food is made from raw ingredients. Previous studies have found that raw pet food may contain food safety pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella.
A Safe Bet
Dr Bruce Kornreich, the director of Cornell University’s Feline Health Center, tells NPR that conventional, store-bought pet food is the safest bet.
The heat used in cooking, canning and pasteurization appears to neutralize the virus. Regular kibble for cats should suffice, advises Kornreich.
Bird flu can cause neurological symptoms like dizziness and seizures, similar to rabies. Experts suggest for this very reason, it’s important to prioritize vet visits and make sure your pet’s rabies and other vaccines are up to date.
