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How to Protect Pets and Backyard Chickens from Bird Flu
As bird flu outbreaks continue to affect animals, experts answer questions about keeping pets and their owners healthy
The current circulating strain of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza is particularly deadly in cats—around two thirds of those infected will die, says Jane Sykes, a veterinarian at the University of California, Davis, who specializes in infectious diseases in cats and small dogs. Dogs can be infected as well, but they seem to be more resistant to getting ill. “If dogs were as susceptible as cats, we would have seen it by now,” Sykes says.
Eating raw food amplifies a pet’s risk, Sykes says, because that can expose them to meat that is contaminated with bird flu or other pathogens. Animals that live on dairy farms or that have access to unpasteurized milk also have elevated risk because research has found raw milk from infected cows has very high levels of the virus. Likewise, cats and dogs living on a poultry farm or with backyard chickens are more likely to be exposed to the virus.
Keeping cats indoors greatly limits their exposure to wild birds and bird feces, both of which can carry the virus. Feeding pets heat-processed, commercial food can help them avoid exposure. If you prepare homemade meals for your animal companions, make sure meat is cooked to the correct temperature: 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) is recommended for poultry, for example.
Experts generally recommend making sure your pets avoid any dead animals, not just birds. Rodents have also tested positive for H5N1, and while it has not been confirmed that they can be a route of transmission to other animals, Sykes says that is possible.
Eating raw food amplifies a pet’s risk, Sykes says, because that can expose them to meat that is contaminated with bird flu or other pathogens. Animals that live on dairy farms or that have access to unpasteurized milk also have elevated risk because research has found raw milk from infected cows has very high levels of the virus. Likewise, cats and dogs living on a poultry farm or with backyard chickens are more likely to be exposed to the virus.
Keeping cats indoors greatly limits their exposure to wild birds and bird feces, both of which can carry the virus. Feeding pets heat-processed, commercial food can help them avoid exposure. If you prepare homemade meals for your animal companions, make sure meat is cooked to the correct temperature: 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) is recommended for poultry, for example.
Experts generally recommend making sure your pets avoid any dead animals, not just birds. Rodents have also tested positive for H5N1, and while it has not been confirmed that they can be a route of transmission to other animals, Sykes says that is possible.
Let's keep Spot, Mittens and Gallus Gallus safe! The life you save may be your own.
