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You’ve doubtless 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?
Because the U.S. outbreak of H5N1 in dairy cattle started in March 2024, dozens of cats are recognized to have contracted the virus. And since 2022, there have been 74 confirmed instances of chook flu in home cats reported to the U.S. Division of Agriculture and 1 case confirmed in a canine in Canada. How anxious ought to we be for our furry associates?
Can Canines Get Hen Flu?
I talked to an skilled, 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 info and oncology specialist at AMC, the world’s largest veterinary educating hospital.
In accordance with Dr. Hohenhaus, “There have been no confirmed instances of canines contracting chook 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 vulnerable to avian influenza than canines. Hamsters are additionally vulnerable.”
What Are The Indicators Of Hen Flu In Pets?
“Respiratory and neurologic indicators are most typical in cats, and the canine in Canada had respiratory indicators,” explains Dr. Hohenhaus. “In case your canine does come into contact with a useless chook or chook droppings, monitor for indicators of sickness — similar to lethargy, fever, respiratory points, or adjustments of their conduct — and phone your veterinarian if any of those indicators are current.”
In accordance with the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, you need to search veterinary care in case your cat or canine seems to have any of the next indicators. Medical indicators of HPAI an infection in cats are higher recognized than in canines. Nevertheless, signs in both species might embody:
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Low urge for food
- Reddened or infected eyes
- Discharge from the eyes and nostril
- Issue respiration
- Neurologic indicators, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness
Can People Contract H5N1 From Pets?
“At the moment, there doesn’t seem 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 chook flu. She recommends frequent handwashing with cleaning soap and water, carrying 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 changing into zoonitic (when people contract infectious ailments from animals). And well being consultants 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 Danger?
“Avian influenza is transmitted by way of contact with saliva, mucous, or feces from contaminated birds,” explains Dr. Hohenhaus. “Nevertheless, 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 as a result of their house owners feeding them uncooked meat or unpasteurized milk merchandise that have 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 embody raw meat, unpasteurized milk, and unpasteurized eggs.
The FDA is urging pet meals producers and people concerned within the provide chain to undertake strategies, similar to pasteurization, that may drastically scale back or remove the danger of chook flu spreading by way of animal meals. Moreover, it advises corporations to supply meat, milk, or eggs from wholesome flocks or herds.
Scientific info is evolving, however at the moment it’s recognized 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, similar to pasteurizing, cooking or canning. Cats (home and enormous felids) specifically can expertise extreme sickness or demise from an infection with H5N1. Canines also can contract H5N1, though they often exhibit gentle scientific indicators and low mortality in comparison with cats. At current, H5N1 has not been detected in canines in the USA, however there have been deadly instances 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 individuals. In accordance with TIME, scientists aren’t ready for that to occur and are engaged on an up to date H5N1 vaccination for people.
At current, the accessible vaccines goal completely different strains of H5N1 that have been prevalent on the time of their growth years in the past. Nevertheless, well being consultants consider these vaccines should 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 Maintain Your Pet Canines & Cats Secure
Dr. Hohenhaus and her staff at AMC have a number of tricks to shield your furry associates. It is a creating scenario, however the next easy precautions might help preserve pets secure.
- Keep away from feeding uncooked meat or dairy. Uncooked or undercooked meat, notably poultry, could be a supply of an infection for cats. Unpasteurized dairy merchandise additionally pose a threat.
- Maintain cats indoors to restrict publicity to wildlife.
- Whereas the danger to canines is much less clear, it’s greatest to preserve all pets away from useless animals, livestock, wildlife, and their waste.
- Canine house owners ought to instruct their canines to keep away from contact with useless birds and chook droppings.
- In case your pet exhibits indicators of sickness, similar to lethargy, fever, or respiratory points, similar 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 footwear 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 essential to take precautions. As consultants say, this zoonitic illness continues to be evolving. You too can discover some helpful security suggestions 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 deal with the pandemic in its hospital and past. Committee members included worldwide infectious ailments 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 skilled on pet well being circumstances and therapy 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 probably the most useful analysis, greatest merchandise, and extra for our personal pups and people of all of our readers.
