Seattle vets warn pet owners to keep cats indoors to avoid bird flu – KING5.com
Next up in 5Example video title will go here for this videoNext up in 5Example video title will go here for this videoSEATTLE — Veterinarians are sounding the alarm about the growing threat of avian influenza to pets, particularly cats, as cases continue to pop up in the Pacific Northwest.The warning comes in the wake of multiple feline deaths in the region, including an outbreak at a Mason County animal sanctuary. Twenty big cats died from symptoms related to avian flu in December.The disease is carried by wild birds and if cats are infected it is often deadly.”We just need to eliminate exposure – that’s the best way to keep the disease under control right now,” Elliott Bay Animal Hospital veterinarian Dr. Heather Weihl said.Elliott Bay Animal Hospital hasn’t treated any cases but is aware of the spread of bird flu the last couple months. Nearby Woodland Park Zoo closed all walk-through aviaries to protect its bird populations. The zoo lost a rare goose to avian flu in November.Elliott Bay Animal Hospital has taken proactive steps to alert its clients about the risks, emphasizing that keeping cats inside is crucial for protecting them from exposure.Weihl said the disease is highly transmissible to cats, but prevention is straightforward. “The disease can be transmitted by being around an infected bird, finding a dead bird and eating that or touching it,” she said.Elliott Bay Animal Hospital advises pet owners to:Cat owners should look out for neurological and respiratory symptoms, which are the primary indicators of infection. If exposure is suspected, Weihl said to immediately contact your local animal hospital.”It’s going to be an issue for a while, and we want to make sure we are vigilant,” Weihl said.While human cases of avian flu have occurred, including a recent fatality in Louisiana involving a person in their 60s, health officials maintain that the risk to humans remains low. The risk increases for individuals who have close contact with birds, but there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, according to the health officials.Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings.
