Are Your Pets at Risk of Getting Bird Flu?
A lot is happening in the world, and an uptick in H5N1 avian flu cases—commonly referred to as “bird flu”—is getting lost in the fray. But it’s a serious, novel outbreak, and is something that we should probably be a bit more concerned about. That goes for pet owners, too.
While the odds of anyone getting bird flu in San Diego are low—yes, you should probably be much more concerned about other things—it’s good to have a handle on what’s going on with the bird flu, and how it may affect your pets. While the bird flu does, as the name suggests, mostly affect birds, there are confirmed cases in other animals, including human beings. That’s rare, but it has happened.
So, before we go any further, know this: The risk of bird flu to you and your loved ones is low. The same is mostly true for your pets, but they may be at risk if they eat or are otherwise exposed to birds (chicken, turkey, etc.) that may have been exposed or infected with the virus.
There have also been confirmed cases of pets transmitting the bird flu to humans; again, it’s very rare, but it’s happened. For example, there was a case in New York City in 2016 when a cat spread the bird flu to a person, a veterinarian, who ended up only suffering from mild flu symptoms.
Bird flu and your pets
With some background out of the way, the most important thing to keep in mind is that your pets—particularly dogs and cats—are at a low risk of coming into contact with or contracting the bird flu. But it is possible. And the way that the flu virus operates, by continuously replicating and mutating, it can move between host animals, which may, at some point, mean that dogs and cats are more vulnerable than they were before.
But for now? The risk remains low, but not improbable. The best way to keep your pets and yourself safe is to remain aware of what your pets are getting into. Are they chasing wild birds at a park? Are they running around a farm, scaring entire flocks of chickens for fun? If so, then their risk is probably a bit elevated.
As for what the symptoms might be? More or less the same flu symptoms a human gets. They may include:
Sneezing
Congestion
Coughing
Fever
Vomiting
Nasal and eye discharge
Can you protect your pet from bird flu?
Knowing that the risks of your pet contracting the bird flu are already low, you may still want to take some precautions to protect them. So, what can you do?
The simplest answer is to keep your pets away from birds—full stop. And wild birds in particular. While that may sound simple, remember that pets (cats in particular) find ways to get their paws on birds all the time. Cats hunt birds when they go outside, so be wary of their activities. Dogs may also find dead birds, which may end up right outside your window, at the park, or on a trail.
Again, just keep an eye out.
Further, you can make sure that your pet’s vaccines are all up to date. Your best bet is to speak with your veterinarian about what specific and appropriate vaccines might be in the mix. Also, keep a watch on the news for any information regarding outbreaks in the area—again, rare and unlikely, but not impossible.
Finally, if you’re concerned or fear your pet is sick, or are worried that they may have been in contact with birds, dead or alive, call your veterinarian. We can help!
Contact us to make an appointment today!
Read more: