Avian Influenza Risk to Cats and Dogs

Bellevue, WA, 01/05/2025 - At Loyal Family Vet Hospital, we are dedicated to the health and safety of your pets. Recently, there has been growing concern about avian influenza (bird flu), a virus that primarily affects birds but can occasionally pose a risk to other animals, including cats and dogs. While the risk of infection in pets is considered low, it’s important to stay informed and take precautionary measures.

Avian influenza is mainly transmitted through direct contact with infected birds, their droppings, or contaminated environments. Cats are more likely to be affected if they interact closely with sick or deceased wild birds, while dogs are at a lower risk but could still be exposed under similar circumstances.

Preventative Measures for Your Pets:

• Limit Exposure to Birds: Keep your pets away from birds and especially areas where birds are sick, dead, or behaving abnormally.

• Avoid Raw Meat Consumption: Recent investigations implicate food as a source of infection for cats, most often unpasteurized milk and raw or undercooked meat (e.g., poultry). To reduce the risk of exposure, avoid feeding your pets raw meat or poultry (including commercially available raw food diets), as it may be contaminated with the virus. In December, the pet food company Northwest Naturals issued a recall of one batch of its 2-lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for H5N1. 

• Monitor for Symptoms: If your pet shows any of the following signs, contact us for evaluation:
• Loss of appetite, lethargy and/or fever
• Coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing
• Excessive discharge from eyes and/or nose
• Neurologic symptoms, such as seizures, uncoordinated movement, or changes in behavior

Though the risk remains low, staying vigilant is key to keeping your pets healthy. If you have any questions or concerns about avian influenza or your pet’s well-being, please reach out to us.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

Avian Influenza A (H5N1) in cats 

H5 Bird Flu: Current situation

Contaminated Raw Pet Food

Mystery Canine Respiratory Illness

Bellevue, WA, 11/20/2023 - The veterinarians at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital are on high alert following the emergence of a mysterious respiratory illness affecting pets across the country, including Washington state. Over the past few weeks, an increasing number of cases have been reported, however none of have been confirmed at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital at this time. 

While investigations are ongoing, initial symptoms observed in affected pets can include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, lethargy and mild to moderate breathing difficulties. As of now, the exact cause of the illness remains unidentified, prompting a thorough examination and analysis by veterinarians to try to determine the root cause and appropriate treatment protocols. Example tests include a respiratory PCR panel and thoracic radiographs (chest x-rays). Both of these tests can be performed at Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital. 

Dog owners can protect their pets from respiratory illness by: 

• Making sure your dog is up to date on their vaccines. Common vaccinations include canine Influenza, Bordetella and Parainfluenza. Ask your veterinarian for advice on which vaccinations are right for your dog.   
• Avoiding populated dog areas like daycare/boarding facilities, dog parks, and groomers. 
• Reducing contact with large numbers of unknown dogs. Just like with other respiratory pathogens, the more contacts your dog has, the greater the risk of encountering a dog that is infectious. 
• Avoiding communal water bowls shared by multiple dogs. 
• Avoiding contact with sick dogs. This can be harder to determine, but if a dog looks sick (coughing, runny nose, runny eyes), keep your dog away from it. 
• Keeping sick dogs at home and seek veterinary care. 
• If your pet is sick, consider having your dog tested with a PCR test to help determine the causative agent (viral/bacterial), if possible. 

The Loyal Family Veterinary Hospital team continues to monitor and investigate the situation closely, prioritizing the health and well-being of pets within the community. 

If you are concerned your pet may be showing signs of respiratory illness, please schedule an appointment by requesting an appointment HERE on our website (preferred) or via email at contact@loyalfamilyvet.com.

For more information: 

https://www.today.com/health/mystery-dog-illness-2023-rcna125553 

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease in Oregon | Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (oregonvma.org)