Joining officials across the country, the Iowa Department of Agriculture is warning pet owners to keep their dogs and cats away from sick or dead wild birds and other wildlife, citing the risk of bird flu.
The department says a cat in Hamilton County that spent most of its time outdoors recently tested positive for the disease after other causes of illness had been ruled out.
It’s also warning against feeding pets raw, undercooked or unpasteurized eggs, meat and pet food, apparently in response to reports that cats in California and Oregon fed brands of raw pet food have fallen sick with bird flu and in one case, died. It warns, as well, against giving them unpasteurized milk, which has been linked to the deaths of four cats.
The department notes that cooking or heat treating pet food to appropriate temperatures kills the HN51 bird flu virus if it’s present.
In addition, the department warns owners to keep pets away from livestock, including poultry and dairy cattle, and wash hands and change clothes between any contact with livestock and before interacting with pets.
How to tell if your pet has bird flu
The American Veterinary Medical Association says cats are particularly susceptible to severe cases of bird flu. It says initial signs of infection in cats and dogs, which are less prone to the illness, are loss of appetite, lethargy and fever.
As the disease progresses, they also may exhibit:
- Neurologic signs such as circling, tremors, seizures, blindness or ataxia, a condition that causes a lack of muscle coordination and balance.
- Severe depression.
- Copious discharge from the eyes and nose.
- Other respiratory signs, including abnormally rapid breathing, shortness of breath and possibly sneezing or coughing.
Red eyes are another possible sign of infection, the Iowa agriculture department says. It asks that Iowa veterinarians who see signs of bird flu in pets, and have ruled out other possible causes, call the department at 515-281-5305.
The veterinary association says people who suspect they have a pet with bird flu should isolate the animal and be careful about handling it because, although the risk is low, transmission of the disease between them and humans is possible.
Bird flu reported in human patient in Iowa last month
The warnings come after bird flu staged a late fall resurgence in Iowa amid wild bird migrations. Iowa reported it first case of human bird flu in the current outbreak Dec. 20. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services said the patient suffered mild symptoms.
The first U.S. human death from bird flu was reported Jan. 6 in Louisiana. The Louisiana health department said the victim had been in contact with both wild and domesticated birds and had underlying health conditions.
But most human cases, like the one in Iowa, are mild, the Iowa agriculture department says.
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