For cats who enjoy spending time outside, Feah says a chained walk is a good option. She also encourages cat owners to consider building a safe Catio or an enclosed outdoor area, allowing animals to receive sensory stimulation that they are still fresh air and are outside, but there is no risk of contact with wildlife and its feces.
Faeh recommends keeping your dog on the leash even outdoors, as there are concerns that avian flu can also be handed over to dogs. AVMA also advises feeding Raw and undercooked foods Or treat the dog.
Faeh says cat owners should seek veterinarian attention if they have concerns about their pet’s health. Symptoms of avian flu to watch out for include loss of appetite, lethargy, fever, runny nose, smooth eyes, and trembling. If you have a sick pet and have a veterinarian appointment, be sure to notify the clinic when you schedule any concerns about the avian flu. Your veterinarian team may ask you and your pet to wait outside until your appointment time, and may take additional precautions within the clinical to prevent the spread of the disease.
How to protect your pet chicken
Maintaining backyard chickens has become a popular hobby, including in major US cities. With the rising prices of eggs, more and more Americans could begin to protect their flocks. Spending time outside, backyard flocks are at a high risk of catching avian flu right now.
For those considering becoming a chicken owner, Faeh recommends first contacting the local health and farming department to discuss the risk of local avian flu before bringing the chicken into the home. If you live in the risk of infection, for example, if you have reported an outbreak of a nearby herd, then think again about delaying becoming an owner.
If you still start raising chickens, or if you already have a backyard flock, there are precautions you can take, says Faeh. Chickens should not be allowed to roam freely in your garden, she says. Instead, put it in a covered shed to prevent exposure to wildlife. Faeh also encourages owners to limit their exposure to chicken guests.
Symptoms of H5N1 in backyard chickens can be more difficult to spot than cats, as birds can die from illness quickly. It’s important to establish care with local veterinarians who practice with chickens, Far says. If you notice any illness in the pack, contact your veterinarian immediately. Similarly, if one of the chickens passes by and suspects avian flu, call your veterinarian and your local public health department.
Owners should also take their own precautions when working with, caring for, and handling backyard chickens. Even if the bird appears healthy, after engaging with the bird, wash your hands and change clothes, says Far. If you have pets or birds that appear sick, consider masking them, she adds.
Although the spread of H5N1 from livestock to humans is rare, it indicates that the virus can make this jump. 70 US people have been infected since the outbreak began, with one dead. However, most human cases have been reported in farm workers dealing with infected livestock, and most transmission appears to occur within the dairy industry where people encounter infected cows and unpasteurized milk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the current risks to human health from H5N1 are low.
But of course, the key to good hygiene is to try and stop the virus from moving in either direction. Handling sick chickens may not catch the virus, but you can pass it on. After spending time with the birds, you may not only wash your hands and change clothes, but you may also be in contact with pets or people you know, perhaps for the protection of other animals. “The risk is much lower for humans than for cats,” says Fae. “We’re more likely to bring it to them than they’d bring us.”
