URGENT: Stop Raw Pet Food Now! Vet Explains Bird Flu Risks & FDA Recall!
The Bird Flu in Raw Cat Food: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know
Hello, pet parents! If you’re concerned about the safety of feeding your cat raw food, you’re not alone. Recently, a troubling story came out about a cat in Oregon who tragically died after eating raw pet food contaminated with bird flu. This cat, who ate Northwest Naturals Turkey Recipe Raw Diet for Cats, contracted the Avian Influenza virus (commonly known as bird flu), which led to its death. The virus came from a sick turkey that was included in the raw food without being properly cooked, allowing the virus to remain active.
This has left many pet owners wondering: Is it safe to feed raw pet food to my cats and dogs? Should we avoid it altogether? Let’s dive into what you need to know about bird flu in raw cat food and how to keep your pets safe.
Understanding the Bird Flu in Cats
In 2024, more than 25 cats were reported to have contracted bird flu, with many of them sadly passing away. The virus was most commonly transmitted from drinking unpasteurized milk, particularly from dairy farms, or from consuming contaminated pet food. Cats exposed to the virus typically exhibit mild respiratory symptoms, like runny eyes, sneezing, and slight coughing. However, in more serious cases, the disease can progress rapidly, leading to neurological signs such as trembling, wobbling, and seizures. Reports suggest that up to 75% of cats that contract the virus die from it.
So, how does bird flu end up in cat food? It all starts when a sick bird—like a turkey infected with the virus—becomes part of raw pet food. Since raw food is not cooked, the virus remains active, and when a cat consumes it, the infection can spread.
Is Raw Pet Food Safe for Cats?
The case in Oregon has raised questions about the safety of raw food for pets, especially cats. The risk of contracting bird flu from raw pet food is very real, but does that mean we should stop feeding raw food to our cats altogether?
Should You Feed Raw Pet Food to Your Cat?
While raw food does carry risks, it also has many benefits. In my experience as a veterinarian, animals on raw diets tend to be healthier overall. They are often at a healthier weight, have better dental health, and experience fewer chronic diseases like diabetes and arthritis. Cats fed raw food also typically have better muscle mass and less obesity.
However, it’s important to recognize the risks associated with raw food. Bacterial contamination, especially if there’s improper handling or cross-contamination during food preparation, is a concern. You can minimize this risk by following proper food safety measures, such as:
- Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw food.
- Freeze the raw food overnight before feeding it to your cat. This reduces the risk of bacteria multiplying.
- Avoid bones or finely chop them before feeding, as whole bones can cause choking or digestive issues.
What Should You Feed Your Cat Instead?
Now, given the recent news about the bird flu, should we switch to safer alternatives? Should we avoid raw food for the time being?
While experts are advising caution, particularly when it comes to raw pet food, I don’t think we need to panic. In the case of Northwest Naturals, the virus likely came from a sick animal that wasn’t properly handled before being included in the raw pet food. This situation, while tragic, is relatively rare.
Given this information and knowing what I now know about the situation, I’m going to be cautious and suggest avoiding raw food that isn’t cooked—especially when we don’t know the source of the poultry. For now, I recommend feeding your cat cooked poultry-based foods, which offer similar benefits to raw food but eliminate the risk of contamination.
Why I Recommend Cooked Chicken or Turkey for Cats
At home, I’ve transitioned my new cat, Cassie, to a high-protein, minimally processed chicken formula. It’s cage-free, cooked, and a safe alternative to raw food. Unlike dry kibble, which can contribute to obesity and urinary tract diseases, cooked food ensures your cat is getting the protein they need without unnecessary carbohydrates.
For those of you who are unable to switch to canned or fresh food, I recommend avoiding any raw foods or freeze-dried options for now. Stick to cooked protein, such as chicken or turkey. You can always reassess your choices in a few months once health authorities, like the FDA, have a clearer understanding of the bird flu situation and its link to pet food.
What About Freeze-Dried Raw Food?
Some pet owners may wonder if freeze-dried raw food is a safer option. Unfortunately, experts say no, as freezing doesn’t eliminate the virus—it only preserves it. So, while freeze-dried raw food might seem like a safer alternative, it still carries the risk of containing an active virus if it was contaminated at the source.
What Should You Feed Your Cat Right Now?
In light of the recent news, it’s important to be cautious when feeding your cat raw food, especially raw poultry. While the risk of bird flu from raw pet food is relatively low, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Right now, I’m sticking with cooked poultry formulas like cage-free chicken or turkey for my cats, including Cassie.
If you currently feed raw food to your pets, consider transitioning to cooked options for the time being. Avoid freeze-dried raw food as well, as it doesn’t eliminate the potential risk of contamination. We’ll continue to monitor this situation closely and adjust our recommendations as more information becomes available.
Cassie’s Taste Test:
As for Cassie, he seems to be enjoying the canned food much more than the dry kibble! And while I’m mindful of his weight and health, it’s comforting to know I’m giving him a nutritious meal without the risks associated with raw food. So, for now, canned food is the way to go.
If you’re looking for more tips on natural pet health and wellness, make sure to subscribe to my channel and check out my free resources. Stay safe and take care of your furry friends!
Hello Dr. Andrew
I have senior dog(15 years, male, 25 kg)…who is suffering from worms since Nov.(red or pinkish in color). In the beginning i was tried to trear that through holistic way with pumpkin seeds, cumin and cloves along with homeopathy but they were of no use….i had to give him panacur(on 27 th Nov.) for 3 days…then i again started the pumpkin seeds but on around 20th Dec i again found the worms..gave pumpkin seeds and homeopathy but no positive result…eventually gave the panacur again on 29th Dec. As his appetite was decreasing.
I want to know that should i repeat it after 14 days too to completely cure the worms? And if yes then for 3 days or 1 day is enough?
P.S. I am giving him milk thistle through this period to support the liver.
Thank you and regards
Isha
Here’s an article that can help:
Worms in dogs are very common, with up to 1/3 of all dogs being infected with intestinal parasites; roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia and giardia. In this article, I’ll go over the most common types of worms, and how you can tell if your dog has worms. I’ll then go on to show you how to prevent dog worms, and give the best ways to treat them, both with conventional medication and natural solutions.
Roundworms are most common; these worms are 1-3 inches long, white, and tapered or round- hence the name roundworm. The veterinary name for roundworms is Toxocara canis. These are what most puppies have when diagnosed with worms. Dogs with roundworms often have a distended belly, appearing bloated. In large infestations they can cause vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss, although most pet owners diagnose them by seeing a worm in their dog’s stool. These are easily transmitted from dog to dog via worm eggs in the stool and on the ground.
Tapeworms are the next most common intestinal parasite of dogs; they are known as Dipylidium canis. Most dogs with tapeworms have few clinical signs, although a heavy infestation can cause intestinal upset and weight loss. These are easy to diagnose by finding segments of the tapeworm in your dogs stool- the segments are flat, white, and sometimes described as flat grains of rice. Dogs acquire most tapeworms after ingesting a flea; the tapeworm lifecycle includes maturing in a flea to be able to be transmitted to other dogs. Tapeworms can also be transmitted with other animals, such as your dog ingesting a mouse.
Coccidia is a worm like microscopic intestinal parasite that commonly causes diarrhea in puppies, but can affect older dogs with compromised immune systems. Coccidia is spread from dog to dog via eggs in the stool, contaminating the water and environment. Some dogs can have a small number of coccidia in their intestinal tract, but the organism flourishes if the pup is under stress (such as overcrowded, unsanitary conditions), leading to diarrhea. Coccidia can be diagnosed with a veterinary microscopic fecal flotation, and should be suspected in any puppy with diarrhea that doesn’t respond to traditional roundworm treatment.
Giardia is a water borne intestinal parasite that more commonly affects adult dogs causing diarrhea; it is also known as ‘beaver fever’. Giardia gets into the water via contamination by wild animals (such as beavers) and infected dogs. The giardia cysts multiply in the intestinal tract, leading to the signs of diarrhea with blood or mucous in the stool. It is a very difficult parasite to diagnose in veterinary practice, so many clinicians may just treat your dog for it with a conventional anti-giardia medication.
Good hygiene and common sense is the best way to prevent your dogs from getting dog worms in the first place. Pick up feces outside on your lawn, and prevent your dog from eating other dog’s feces. Restrict your dog from drinking water in contaminated creeks, or water that is stagnant in small pools. Practice adequate flea control to limit the likelihood of tapeworms, and ensure that your dog has a hygienic, un-crowded environment to decrease the chances of developing coccidia.
The conventional treatment for dog worms depends upon the type of intestinal parasite your dog has. Roundworms are easy to treat with a common, and safe medication called pyrantel palmoate; avoid using any of the older de-wormers containing piperazine as they can be very unsafe. Treatment with Pyran (Pyrantel) is 2 doses, 10-14 days apart. As most puppies have roundworms, I suggest having them all dosed with Pyran at 6 and 8 weeks- they may need additional treatments. Tapeworms respond well to treatment with praziquantel, which may be combined with pyran (drontal); generally only 1 dose is required. Coccidia respond best to the sulfa antibiotics, usually sulfadimethoxine (S-125, or Albon); the dose being 250mg per 10lbs once daily for 14-21 days. Giardia can be treated with 2 common conventional medications, metronidazole, and an older dewormer called fenbendazole. Fenbendazole is also effective against other intestinal parasites, and is becoming the treatment of choice for Giardia. The fenbendazole dose is 250mg per 10lbs once daily for 3-7 days.
A number of different natural remedies are being used to help treat and eliminate worms in dogs. Papaya was shown to be effective in eliminating roundworms in pigs, it may work for your pet and at least it will do no harm. Pumpkin seed has been used for tapeworms. If your pet is a great hunter always re-infesting herself with tapeworms, you may want to consider this. The dose is 1 tsp per 10 lbs of body weight of the ground seed. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) is a common anti-parasitic used for animals: give 1 capsule of the ground herb per 20 lbs of body weight. Garlic has shown some activity against a parasite called Giardia (causes Beaver Fever). It is useful in recurrent infections.
You should now have a good understanding of the common types of worms in dogs, and be able to recognize the common symptoms of infection: vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and worms in the feces. The four most common intestinal parasites are: roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia and giardia- they can all be prevented with adequate dog hygiene. Lastly you should now be aware of the most effective conventional and holistic remedies to treat your dog if they are to acquire any of these intestinal parasites.