What You Need to Know About Avian Flu
- posted: Feb. 28, 2025
What You Need to Know about Avian Flu
Avian influenza is affecting chickens and other birds across the country including in Pennsylvania. While this threatens both large and small flocks of chickens driving up meat and egg prices, the H5N1 flu variant has crossed species and may also affect wild birds, cows, goats, rodents, fox, and other wild mammals and has been found in domestic cats and, less commonly in dogs. As of now, there are NO REPORTED CASES OF AVIAN FLU IN CATS OR DOGS IN PENNSYLVANIA. Humans are rarely affected but infection is possible and 66 cases of H5N1 have been documented in the US, most found in people working on poultry or dairy farms. The threat to the general public and to pets remains low, but some precautions should be taken.
Do not feed raw milk or meat, especially poultry, to cats or dogs. From the AVMA, “Recent investigations implicate food as a source of infection for cats, most often unpasteurized milk and raw or undercooked meat (e.g., poultry). Other potential sources include: Exposure to infected wild birds or poultry or livestock or to people who work on affected farms or to their clothing/fomites.”
Take precautions to avoid exposing cats to wild birds or domestic chickens, ducks, etc. and do not handle dead birds. If you have backyard chickens or work on a poultry or dairy farm, use proper decontamination and hygiene and report any sick birds. In PA, report suspected illness in flocks to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services at 717-772-2852, option 1.
Symptoms in birds include sudden death, low energy or appetite, purple discoloration or swelling of various body parts, reduced egg production/soft-shelled/misshapen eggs, nasal discharge, coughing or sneezing, lack of coordination, and diarrhea.
Symptoms in cats may include loss of appetite, lethargy, fever and may progress to incoordination, seizures, and respiratory symptoms with coughing and sneezing, nasal and ocular discharge and difficulty breathing. Avian flu may result in death in cats. There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment available, but supportive care may be offered to treat ill cats. Reminder—there are currently NO CASES of flu found in cats in Pennsylvania but we want you to be cautious and aware to protect your cats and backyard birds.
Please do not panic if your cat has respiratory symptoms, but do seek veterinary care if your cat is ill, especially if he or she eats a raw diet or has had exposure to wild birds or poultry. With vigilance and precaution, we can help prevent the spread of avian flu in our bird flocks and our domestic pets.
This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/bird-flu-is-raising-red-flags-among-health-officials
Location
Patton Veterinary Hospital
425 E Broadway
Red Lion, PA 17356
