A cat in Oregon died from bird flu after consuming contaminated raw pet food, prompting warnings about the dangers of feeding raw diets to cats and dogs. The Oregon case marks the first documented death in an indoor cat with no exposure to poultry or dairy farms.
Officials are warning pet owners against feeding raw pet food s after a cat in Oregon was found to have died from a product contaminated by bird flu . The maker of that cat food, Northwest Naturals, has since recalled the product. Bird flu infections in cats have been on the rise for years, experts say. There were no cases in the United States until 2022, but by late 2024, there had been over 25 cases reported. They were mostly cats on dairy farms in states such as Texas and Colorado.
There have also been some indoor cats with no known exposure. They may have been fed raw diets or unpasteurized milk. The Oregon report represents the first documented case of an indoor cat with no exposure to poultry or dairy cows dying from the virus through consumption of a raw food. Only about 2% of pet owners feed their dogs or cats a commercial raw food diet, according to a 2024 American Pet Products survey. The problem with feeding raw milk and meat is that these foods can be contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Commercial pet foods are heat treated, while there have been cases of pets infected with and dying from salmonella and other bacteria lurking in raw foods. The processing that traditional pet foods go through makes it almost impossible for that to happen. Some owners may believe it’s safer to feed their pets raw food or treats that are freeze dried — a process that involves freezing a substance and then vacuuming out water crystals. But freezing is just a good way to preserve viruses
Bird Flu Pet Food Raw Diets Health Warning Zoonotic Disease
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