Can Dogs Get Bird Flu? Our Vet Discusses Signs, Causes & Treatment – Dogster

On the floor, questioning if a canine can get chook flu may sound like a little bit of a no brainer, however once we understand that people, cattle, cats, and different mammals can grow to be contaminated with the lethal H5N1 virus, it all of the sudden doesn’t appear that unusual to be fearful about our canine.

Avian influenza, extra generally known as ‘chook flu’ or H5N1 is a extremely contagious illness that has sporadic outbreaks all through the world,¹ with devastating results on the poultry trade and wildlife inhabitants. Traditionally, the illness has solely been identified to unfold from chook to chook and sometimes from chook to mammal, however current outbreaks are exhibiting indicators of worrying modifications within the virus, with instances of H5N1 present in dairy cattle, spreading between cows and onto people by means of direct publicity to contaminated animals.²

Though the severity of the scientific indicators in each people and cattle has been comparatively delicate general, as of January 22, 2025, there have been 68 confirmed instances of H5N1 in cats 2. These instances introduced with extreme respiratory and neurological indicators, and had been typically deadly. It’s believed that almost all of those instances contracted the virus by consuming unpasteurized milk or uncooked meat, and several other producers of uncooked cat meals have issued voluntary remembers of merchandise susceptible to contamination.³

Realizing that cats have been contaminated, and severely affected, by chook flu, it’s pure to be involved concerning the dangers to our canine companions.

So, can canine get chook flu?

Sure, canine can get chook flu, nevertheless, there have been no precise reported instances to this point.

Preserve studying to learn the way the present chook flu scenario might have an effect on your canine, what indicators to look out for, and the steps you possibly can take to maintain your pets and household protected.

What Is Chicken Flu?

Chicken flu is a contagious type of the influenza virus that spreads quickly by means of avian populations. It has a excessive fatality fee, and when detected in farms, invariably results in the culling of affected and in-contact chook populations. There have been a number of strains  of the avian flu virus over time,⁴ together with:

With H5N1 being the supply of the present outbreak. Sadly, because of the nature of influenza viruses, outbreaks have and can proceed, to happen periodically, and it’s the potential to adapt and mutate that has the world fearful.

What Are The Indicators of Chicken Flu?

The indicators of N5N1 fluctuate between species, with birds displaying probably the most extreme kind and the best fatality fee.

Scientific Indicators of Chicken Flu (H5N1) An infection
Birds	Sudden demise with no prior indicators Low vitality or urge for food Purple discoloration or swelling of varied physique elements Decreased egg manufacturing, or soft-shelled/misshapen eggs Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing Lack of coordination Diarrhea
Cattle	Low urge for food Decreased milk manufacturing Irregular look of milk (thickened, discolored) Lactating cows have been most extremely affected Indicators of sickness have been reported in lower than 10% of cows inside a herd
People	Fever Aching muscular tissues Headache Cough or shortness of breath Diarrhea Vomiting/nausea Conjunctivitis
Cats	Fever Lethargy Low urge for food Reddened or infected eyes Discharge from the eyes and nostril Problem respiration Neurologic indicators, like tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness Demise
Canine	Could also be just like cats Normally subclinical

Can Canine Get Chicken Flu?

Dogs have tested positive for H5N1 in areas affected by chook flu outbreaks, in addition to when contaminated experimentally, however in each instances, not one of the animals confirmed any scientific indicators of the an infection. Nonetheless, in 2006, experimental an infection of canine with equine influenza, H3N8, resulted in comparable, subclinical outcomes, whereas canine contaminated naturally confirmed extreme scientific indicators and a excessive fatality fee.

Though it’s a good factor for our canine that the present avian flu doesn’t seem to trigger scientific illness, they’re able to carry and transmit the virus. With this in thoughts, we nonetheless should be vigilant and preserve our canine away from suspected instances of chook flu.

How Is Chicken Flu Recognized?

If you happen to suspect that your pet has been contaminated or uncovered to avian flu, it can be crucial that you just contact your veterinarian instantly for recommendation, and comply with the rules set out by the CDC.

💛 🐶 Converse To a Vet On-line From the Consolation of Your Sofa!

If it’s essential to converse with a vet however can’t get to 1, head over to PangoVet. It’s a web-based service the place you possibly can speak to a vet on-line and get the personalised recommendation you want in your pet — all at an inexpensive value!

The chance of the an infection spreading to you out of your pet is low, however not inconceivable, so it’s vital to guard your self and your loved ones. As a result of the neurological indicators of H5N1 can mimic these of rabies, a swift and correct prognosis is significant.

Your vet might want to contact the native state animal well being official, state public well being veterinarian, or state veterinary diagnostic laboratory to search out out the place to ship any samples for testing, which can contain mouth swabs, urine, or blood samples.

How Is Chicken Flu Handled in Canine?

Being a flu virus, there isn’t a particular remedy for H5N1. The place secondary bacterial an infection is suspected or recognized, antibiotics shall be given, however generally, supportive care is required, which can embrace:

• fluids (oral or intravenous)
• antiinflammatory drugs
• anti-seizure medicine
• antiemetics (to cease vomiting/nausea)

Relying on the kind and severity of your canine’s scientific indicators.

How Can I Defend My Canine From Chicken Flu?

Though the chance of your canine turning into contaminated with H5N1 is at the moment very low, there are some steps you possibly can take to maintain these dangers even decrease, and these are doubly vital when you’ve got different pets at house as properly.

• Keep knowledgeable: Preserve updated with information and present details about chook flu in your space. Subscribe to Dogster.com for updates and alerts on this, and different pet sicknesses.
• No uncooked meat or eggs, or unpasteurized milk: Though there are some well being advantages to feeding your pets a uncooked eating regimen, this can be a excellent instance of why it does carry greater dangers. If you wish to present your canine with the advantages of a complete, pure eating regimen, think about recent meals choices like The Farmer’s Dog or Nom Nom which gently prepare dinner their human-grade substances to take away pathogens, then freeze to maintain them recent with out preservatives.

If you happen to usually feed uncooked, contact your provider for recommendation. Gently cooking the meals ought to enormously cut back the dangers to your pets, however it’s higher to be protected than sorry. Bear in mind to take away any bones earlier than feeding cooked rooster to your canine.

• Keep away from and report sick birds: though it goes in opposition to any animal lover’s instincts to depart a sick or injured animal alone, in case you see an unwell chook, the most secure factor to do is to keep away from touching it and follow the CDC’s advice on what to do subsequent. If doable, you possibly can place a cardboard field or comparable over the chook to guard it from predators till assist arrives.
• Preserve cats indoors: when you’ve got a cat, preserve them indoors and away from the chance of contracting the virus from wildlife
• Preserve meals and water bowls indoors: keep away from any contact or contamination from wildlife by retaining your pet’s bowls inside the home.

Incessantly Requested Questions (FAQ)

Can I get chook flu from my canine?

Technically, sure, it’s doable for chook flu to be transmitted in secretions and unfold the virus from canine to people, nevertheless, the chance is extraordinarily low. By sustaining good hygiene ranges, washing your palms after enjoying along with your canine, and avoiding shut contact with their face, saliva, and urine, it’s extremely unlikely that your canine will provide you with chook flu. Individuals with power sickness or compromised immune techniques needs to be additional cautious.

Can I give chook flu to my canine?

As above, it’s doable, but the risk is very low. When you’ve got been contaminated or involved with avian flu, lowering your contact along with your pet, carrying a masks, and training good hygiene, ought to preserve you each protected.

Will the federal government need to kill my canine?

No! Though you will have heard of flocks of farmed birds being culled, that is finished to stop struggling and restrict the unfold of the illness. Animals like canine and cats pose a really low threat of spreading the illness, so you don’t have anything to worry from their outcomes being reported. Circumstances of an infection in pets have to be recorded, nevertheless, in order that we will higher perceive how, why, and the place this illness could also be unfold.

Last Ideas

Though canine can grow to be contaminated with chook flu, at this stage, there have been no experiences of any instances the place canine are exhibiting scientific indicators of illness. Nonetheless, as we’ve seen with different viruses reminiscent of equine influenza, it could be doable for the virus to mutate right into a extra virulent kind, so you will need to keep knowledgeable and vigilant. There have been quite a few fatalities reported in cats contaminated with chook flu, so it’s critical to maintain your feline mates protected throughout this, and any future chook flu outbreaks.

Working towards good hygiene, avoiding areas of identified outbreaks, and leaving sick birds alone are easy methods to maintain you and your pets protected, and don’t feed any uncooked meat, eggs, or unpasteurized milk to your pets.

Additionally see:

---

Featured Picture Credit score: Mark R Croucher, Shutterstock