Bird Flu and Raw Pet Food: A Guide to Navigate the Risks
If you feed your pet raw food, or if you follow the media, you probably have seen the news on the Bird Flu cases. Raw pet food has been a controversial topic for a long time, so this is a cherry on top for those against this diet.
For the past week or so, I’ve been reading just about any article on this topic. I’ve seen a lot of panic and misinformation being spread around, so I decided to create this blog.
Let’s look at the current data (as of December 31, 2024) and compare it with the science. At the end, I will share steps I am taking to keep myself, and my kitty safe.
Important Note: This information is for general knowledge and discussion purposes only. It presents scientific findings related to pet food, but the interpretations and opinions expressed are solely my own and should not be considered as veterinary or nutritional advice. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian for any concerns regarding your pet’s health and diet.
So we now know that the virus can spread to cows, and be found in their raw milk. Please do not consume raw dairy (products), or give them to your pets, especially cats. Cow milk is not good for cats – for multiple reasons.
There have been no human cases of bird flu associated with exposure to these cats yet identified. The investigation is ongoing.
How Pets can be exposed to Bird Flu
One of the ways our pets can be exposed to the Avian Flu virus is through their (raw) food. Pet food can be contaminated with the virus through:
Contaminated Ingredients: If the raw ingredients used in the pet food (meat, poultry, organs) come from animals infected with the bird flu virus, the virus can be present in the food.
Cross-contamination: During processing or handling, the raw pet food can become contaminated with the virus if it comes into contact with contaminated surfaces, equipment, or other ingredients.
There are also some studies that show that High-Pressure Processing (HPP) deactivates viruses. But what is it, and how does it apply to the pet food industry?
What is High-Pressure Processing (HPP), and how is it used in the raw pet food industry?
In essence, HPP is a modern food safety technology that offers an alternative to traditional heat-based methods. It works by applying really high pressure (using water) to a sealed product. This disrupts the cellular structure of microorganisms like bacteria and yeasts, effectively inactivating them without the use of heat, thus maintaining the food’s original flavor, texture, and nutritional value.
Northwest Naturals’ response (as of December 31, 2024): “We do not yet know. We use HPP as the best food safety method available to maintain a high quality raw pet food. The H5N1 virus is an emerging strain of the virus and we, along with the Department of Agriculture and others, are conducting a thorough investigation.”
As I was doing my research on this, I realized how much trust we (as consumers/pet parents) put in the raw pet food industry. And that’s why it’s important that everyone does a little bit of looking around before choosing “their brands”.
Things that might help you choose best raw pet food brand:
Meat Quality: You want to look for food made from human grade meat. It means it can be consumed by humans. However, it does not mean it’s safe from bird flu – after all, humans do not eat raw meat. That’s why it’s important to buy from manufacturers that source from farms that actively test their flocks for Avian Flu.
Brand/ Farm precautions: You want to purchase from a company that not only tests their poultry for the virus, but also rejects the whole flock if any bird tests positive. The bird flu is highly contagious, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.
Sourcing: I choose to purchase from brands that source their products from local farms. Some products can not be sourced locally (for example – kangaroo or lamb meat – for us in Western Canada).
By sourcing locally, the transport time/ distance is minimal, reducing possible “outside contaminants”. This is my personal opinion 🙂
It really is up to you, and what you feel comfortable doing/ what you feel is right. This blog post is to provide you with some facts to consider.
Some people started gently cooking their pet’s raw food. There are some precautions that should be taken when doing so – for example, some raw food can contain crushed bones. Bones become brittle when cooked, and could hurt your pets digestive system. So please do your research beforehand, and reach out to the brands themselves to see if they recommend cooking their products.
Steps I am taking to keep my cat safe from Bird Flu
I choose to not do homemade raw. Like I said before, human grade does not mean H5N1 virus free. I’m sure I could source some really high quality meat from local farms/ butchers – but that would not be enough for me.
I plan to limit the amount of raw poultry in my cat’s diet. There are plenty of other (raw) proteins available to us, and I feel confident giving my cat canned food containing poultry.
If the situation in my area worsens, or if the local government advises, I will take down our bird feeders. At the moment I feel comfortable feeding the birdies – but I am going to be a bit more cautious when taking Chumka outside.
Final Words
My goal for this blog post was to provide current information in a neutral stand. And I hope that you found this helpful. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me – either through an Instagram DM, or a message through my contact page.
Hello there! Some of the things I’m obsessed with are cats, science and medicine - so this (blog) is a perfect mixture of those three things, isn’t it?! Join me as I write about cool things I’ve learned and obsessed over.
