January 3, 2025 – The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is advising pet parents not to feed their pets Monarch Raw Pet Food, due to the detection of H5 bird flu virus in product samples.
What You Need to Know About the H5 Bird Flu Virus
If your pet has been infected with the HPAI virus, they can show a range of clinical signs including loss of appetite, severe depression, fever, difficulty breathing, neurological disease, respiratory difficulties, jaundice, and death. These signs are expected to develop within a few days of exposure to the virus. As with many viral infections, some cats may only show mild signs. It’s important to note that cats have died from avian influenza
Important Message for People Who Handled These Foods
While it’s unlikely that people would catch avian influenza through contact with an infected wild, stray, feral, or domestic cat, it is possible, especially if there is prolonged and unprotected exposure to an infected animal. Precautions should be taken when handling a sick animal, whether it is a beloved pet or a wild animal.
Cat Foods Involved
The affected food was Monarch Raw Pet Food, sold at a farmers’ market in California.
What to Do Next
Anyone who thinks their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians.
If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
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Sources used: Monarch Raw Pet Food
Featured Image Credit: eva_blanco, Shutterstock