Beaver State News

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) have issued a warning to pet owners about the risks associated with raw pet food. This comes after tests confirmed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in two cats from separate households in Multnomah County, Oregon. The cats' owners, following consultations with veterinarians, decided to euthanize their pets due to severe illness. ODA verified that both cats consumed the same brand of raw pet food before falling ill.

Veterinarians reported the illness according to protocol by notifying ODA. Agency staff collected samples from the affected cats and opened containers of the implicated raw pet food. Additional unopened containers were provided to WSDA for further testing. The Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories at the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed HPAI in both cats and food samples.

Following these findings, along with additional testing by WSDA, a public health alert has been issued by WSDA concerning certain lots of Wild Coast Raw pet food produced in Olympia, WA. Consumers are advised to check lot numbers on Wild Coast Raw products at home and stop using them if they match affected lots.

Cats, including domestic and wild species such as tigers and mountain lions, are particularly susceptible to H5N1 avian influenza. Dogs can also contract H5N1 but seem less vulnerable than cats. To protect pets from H5N1:

- Avoid feeding pets undercooked or raw meat.

- Do not give pets raw milk or colostrum.

- Prevent pets from consuming birds or wild animals.

- Wash hands after handling raw meat or interacting with animals outside your household.

- Consider changing clothes after interacting with animals of unknown health status before handling your own pets.

- Contact a veterinarian if a pet appears sick, especially if exposed to risk factors like raw meat or wild waterfowl.

If H5N1 is suspected in a pet, contact a veterinarian immediately and report any risk factors. Veterinarians must report suspected animal influenza cases to ODA at (503) 986-4711.

Public health officials monitor individuals exposed to infected animals for 10 days following their last exposure. There have been no documented human cases of HPAI from exposure to an infected cat.