This month, at least two cats in Oregon had to be euthanized after ingesting raw pet food tainted with bird flu. This has led agricultural officials to issue a public health advisory this past Friday regarding these products.

Authorities from Oregon and Washington state have issued alerts, as samples of bird flu virus were found in batches of raw pet food produced by Wild Coast LLC, located in Olympia, Washington.

Both cats, from different homes in Multnomah County, developed severe illnesses after consuming the contaminated raw pet food. Following discussions with their veterinarians, the cats’ owners made the difficult decision to euthanize them due to the seriousness of their conditions.

Veterinarians promptly reported the illnesses to state health officials. Investigators collected samples from the affected cats, as well as from opened food packages. Laboratory testing at both state and federal levels confirmed the presence of bird flu in both the animals and their food. Furthermore, inspections of unopened containers in Washington revealed traces of the virus as well.

The implicated products were identified as Wild Coast’s Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula, specifically lots #22660 and #22664, which have a best-by date set for December.

The U.S. Agriculture Department has reported that numerous domestic cats, including at least 24 in the current year, have contracted the H5N1 virus, primarily after consuming raw milk or pet food contaminated with the virus.

Common symptoms of H5N1 in pets include fever, extreme fatigue, lack of appetite, inflamed or red eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, respiratory distress, and neurological signs such as tremors, seizures, and blindness.

Pet owners whose animals have consumed raw food or milk or have had contact with outdoor birds should seek veterinary attention immediately.

Although there have been no reported human cases linked specifically to handling contaminated pet food, infection can occur if the virus enters through the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Since 2022, bird flu has been spreading among wild bird populations across the United States. Remarkably, it was detected in U.S. dairy cows for the first time last year, with over 960 cattle herds affected in 16 states.

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