A Freddie’s Place Pet Health Update
Bird flu news is everywhere… it’s being blamed for everything from soaring egg prices, increased cost of poultry products in the U.S. and it’s even been found in cows milk in some areas of the nation. Numbers of diagnosed cases in birds, other animals, pets, and even humans, are on the rise, but what does it all mean?
Beyond the noise of headline news… what does the increase in confirmed cases of Aviary Flu mean for you and your fur kids? Is there need to worry… if so, how can I can you keep your pets safe?
What is the Bird Flu?
The technical name for the virus is “H5 Bird Flu”, or Avian influenza, and it is an illness that has spread worldwide from migratory wild birds. The virus is “contact based”, so it is not necessarily airborne… although it can travel on nasal secretions. The main culprit that spreads the illness is bird to bird contact with saliva and feces. A secondary method of transmission is through contaminated feed, water, or coming in contact with the virus on a birds feathers. Birds infected who become prey of other animals pass the virus as the bird is moved or eaten by the predatory animal. A CDC reports states that nearly 12,000 cases of Bird Flu have been detected in wild birds tested as of 2/5/25. All 50 states in our Union have reported H5 Bird Flu outbreaks. As you can imagine, the concern about Bird Flu stretches well beyond wild birds.
Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg
If wild birds carry the virus, and it spreads from feces, saliva, or nasal drips, its only fair to make the conclusion that domesticated birds could and would catch the virus, as birds of a feather flock together. One key demographic group under heavy examination and scrutiny are chicken or other poultry. Wild birds steal chicken feed, they use common water sources, and “everybody poops” so infected feces could be all about a chickens living area. Once a single chicken is infected, the illness runs wild and can ravage a barnyard full of chickens in a short time. Approximately 90% of all chickens infected by the flu die, or are put down to stop the rapid spread.
It only makes sense that if a chicken is infected with the bird flu, the meat and eggs of that chicken would also be infected… or one would think. The reality is, if the eggs or meat are cooked to a proper internal temperature (165 degrees Fahrenheit for eggs) will kill the virus and make consumption safe to everyone… man, pet, or beast. Under cooked eggs or poultry has always carried a risk of illness, so the idea of cooking it completely is not new, it’s just more important during this outbreak of Aviary Flu. The chances of you or your pets contracting bird flu through eating eggs or poultry is slim to none, if you follow standard cooking procedures.
To give you some scope of why prices of eggs and poultry are on the steady rise, reports state that over 156 million chickens, ducks, turkeys, and other “meat bearing” birds have been slaughtered since widespread outbreak began in January 2022. Since the flu has spread to all 50 states and reported cases are on the rise, its safe to say that prices will be high and supplies low for the foreseeable future.
From the Sky to the Pasture
Since wild birds and cows often mingle in the same space, it was always a possibility that Bird Flu could spread to dairy herds. As recently as December 2024, that fear was recognized as fact. The State of California, our nations top milk producing state, declared a state of emergency surrounding the spread of Bird Flu in dairy cattle. This action was designed to increase visibly of the outbreak, to help state agencies interact with each other, and to help with overall preparedness for all parties concerned.
The virus has been confirmed in 735 herds of dairy cattle across 16 states. California, Idaho, Colorado, Michigan, and Texas having the majority of cases. Iowa, Utah, Minnesota, New Mexico, South Dakota, Nevada, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wyoming also confirmed cases but in much smaller numbers.
So what about cows milk? Is it safe to consume? Much like eggs and meat of poultry birds, as long as the milk goes through the process of pasteurization, the heat used will kill the virus and milk is safe. Raw milk directly from a cow does carry the possibility of containing the virus. With all the various other types of plant based milk available, the impact of bird flu in cows milk shouldn’t have the same sort of impact to prices and availability… as long as the infection rate is controlled.
How Would I Know if my Fur Kids had Bird Flu?
The “Owning a Pet 101” truth is, yep… your pets can catch the bird flu. After all, dogs and cats are out in the yard, wild birds are also out in your yard. Birds poop, dogs like bird poop as a toy, and outdoor cats play with or eat birds. Out on a trail, a pet can come in contact with bird droppings, feathers, or come across another animal that has been in contact with a sick bird. Once one animal in your home has the Bird Flu… chances are good it will spread due to common areas, shared food and water dishes, playtime, and casual contact. Sure, it could happen, but before you panic… please read on.
The facts are that there are ZERO reported cases of dogs catching Bird Flu. While that is good news, it doesn’t mean dogs don’t have it or haven’t caught it. It simply means there are no REPORTED cases. The illness may have been ignored, or mistaken as some other virus. For now let’s be positive, as there is nothing documented that would drive a concern for your canine companions.
Cats are not quite as lucky. Since 2022 there have been 80 cases reported of diagnosed Bird Flu in felines. Some of the cats died from the disease. Of the 80 cases, the vast majority of patients were outdoor, or barn cats. These cats could have access to cows milk, they are around chickens, wild bird droppings, they might even dine on the occasional “catch and kill” bird they find. However, in the past six months, there has been a rise in cases of domestic house cats diagnosed with Bird Flu. House cats catch and eat mice, they sometimes are given raw milk, or raw food that carries the virus. Again, there’s no need to panic at this time, as we are talking 80 cases (you know there are likely a lot more not reported) out of over 82 million cats in the United States. It would appear “the Odds are Forever in Your Favor” of your cat never contracting the Aviary Flu.
However, if your pet shows the following signs, you should see your trusted veterinarian immediately for testing and consultation. Obviously, these are symptoms of multiple conditions or illnesses, but seeing these signs bunched together could point to Bird Flu.
Lastly… Should I Be Worried for my Human Family?
According to the CDC, at this time, there is very limited concern about humans catching bird flu. You would need to have a considerable amount of contact with wild birds, chickens, or wild animals. Farmers, Cattle Ranchers, people who work with birds, workers in poultry factories, Zoo employees, people that clean up bird messes, these types of folks are at a higher risk of contracting Bird Flu than the average human being. If you’re not in a higher risk category, there’s no reason to worry at this time.
Here are the numbers for cases of Bird Flu in humans…
- 67 reported and confirmed cases in the U.S. (all but one of those cases were diagnosed in 2024/2025)
- 900 diagnosed cases around the world in the past 20 years
- 460 people have died from bird flu worldwide (only one in the United States)
Even though the risk is currently low, it would be advisable to keep updated on Bird Flu news. As more cases are reported, as more animals become infected, as the numbers increase, the virus could mutate into different strains that humans are more likely to catch. We’ve seen the flu and Covid mutate into different strains over the past decades. A virus works hard to stay alive, so it is ever changing. Humans could have Bird Flu if they have persistent eye redness, difficulty breathing, and a nagging fever. Those are also signs of many other illnesses, all that should prompt a doctors visit.
Don’t Get Caught by Surprise
For now, stay informed, stay diligent, watch new outlets you trust and stay up-to-date on any changes in the Bird Flu saga. Keep your pets safe by knowing the signs of Bird Flu in animals, how to keep their environment safe, and what not to feed them. Today, and the short term future, Bird Flu isn’t something most pet owners need to worry about… at least not today.
We hope you learned a thing or two from today’s Dog Blog… we did! Valentines Day is just a few days away, and nothing would ruin a romantic evening like your pet becoming ill because of your gift selection of flowers or plants. Our friends at the ASPCA offer a list of Toxic and Non-Toxic plants at the following link; https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list
In addition, keep Valentines candy locked away from wet noses, wandering paws, and roaming tongues. Chocolate is deadly, as are raisins, and many other ingredients in candy. If your pet eats a large amount of chocolate, call your trusted veterinarian immediately. Be prepared to tell them what the animal ate, the quantity, and how much time has passed since they digested it. All these things are critical and could mean the difference between life and death in some situations.
That’s it for our FreddieSez team this week. We hope you drop back in for future Dog Blog segments as we dig deep to find informative and interesting pet related topics for you to explore. Until next time, be safe, be healthy, be fun, and always be Pet Friendly – #FreddieSez
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