Worried your pet might catch bird flu? Here’s what you can do
No Australian pets have contracted H5 bird flu, but overseas outbreaks suggest cats are particularly vulnerable.
An outbreak of H5 bird flu in Australia has many pet owners wondering if their animals could become infected. While the risk to most cats and dogs remains low, veterinarians warn that pets can still contract the virus and suffer severe illness. Cats are particularly vulnerable, often dying within days of exposure. Dogs tend to have milder symptoms or none at all. No vaccinations exist for pets, and there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of antiviral drugs.
Pets can contract bird flu in four main ways: direct contact with infected wildlife, being in areas where infected wildlife has been, consuming infected animal products, or coming into contact with the virus at home on clothing, shoes, or equipment. Outbreaks in other countries show infected cats can deteriorate rapidly and die quickly, while dogs usually show mild symptoms or none at all.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, coughing, difficulty breathing, eye or nose discharge, and in cats, neurological issues like tremors, seizures, or blindness. If your pet shows any of these signs, call your vet ahead of time to discuss the situation before visiting.
To prevent infection, avoid letting pets interact with wildlife, keep them indoors, and stay away from contaminated environments where bird droppings, feathers, carcasses, or water may contain the virus. Don't feed pets raw animal products, as they are a common source of infection in other countries. Finally, practice good hygiene by washing hands, disinfecting equipment, and changing clothes and shoes if handling sick or dead wildlife.
By taking these precautions, owners can greatly reduce the risk of their pets contracting H5 bird flu.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
