The Hidden Risk of Avian Influenza in Pet Food: Protecting Dogs and Cats

At BSM Partners, we act as ambassadors of pet health and well-being to ensure pets everywhere have access to safe, nutritious foods. However, a looming threat to their safety has emerged and is growing: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), particularly the H5N1 strain. Outbreaks in South Korea, Oregon, California as well as other states have highlighted the virus's potential to contaminate pet food, potentially putting dogs and cats at risk.  

As responsible pet owners, understanding the dangers and mitigation strategies is crucial. This article explores the risks, implications and crucial steps both pet parents and pet food companies can take to mitigate the threat of HPAI. 

Understanding HPAI H5N1 

HPAI H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, is a highly contagious and potentially deadly influenza type A virus variant affecting both domestic and wild birds. Less frequently, it has been isolated from mammalian species, including cows, dogs, cats, and humans. Global outbreaks have devastated poultry industries, posed significant human health risks, and are currently threatening the health and safety of our domestic dogs and cats.

HPAI H5N1 is resistant in nature and can survive for long periods of time, even in low temperatures. This allows for easy transmission to occur through direct contact with infected birds, contaminated surfaces, feed, water, and equipment, or indirect contact with contaminated environments, people, and vehicles. 

Pet Food as a Potential Vector 

HPAI H5N1 can contaminate pet food through infected poultry by-products, cross-contamination during processing, and contaminated raw materials, including meat and milk. Contamination of pet food usually happens when there have been inadequate food safety measures or when good manufacturing practice have not been deployed. Our pets are vulnerable to consumption of contaminated food and exposure to infected animal products. Cats seem to be one of the most susceptible mammalian species, with 57 reported cases of H5N1 in domestic cats across several western and midwestern states since December 2022, as reported by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).  

The highest risk at this time is raw poultry and milk products that have not undergone any pathogen mitigation treatments, followed by raw products that have undergone pathogen mitigation process. Heat-treated, pasteurized, or cooked products like extruded kibble or canned foods actually pose little risk at all, as these processes are proven to inactivate pathogens such as H5N1.  

Implications for Pet Health 

Symptoms in dogs and cats may include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, respiratory issues (discharge from eyes and nose, difficulty breathing), gastrointestinal problems (vomiting and diarrhea), and neurological signs (tremors, seizures, incoordination, or blindness). Infected animals have varying mortality rates but are much higher in cats than dogs. In all cases, prompt veterinary attention is essential.  

 

Mitigation Strategies for Pet Food Companies 

It’s important that all pet food manufacturers understand the risk of contamination with H5N1 and that steps are taken to reduce the risk of exposure, just as one should with more common food-borne pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria. Best practices involve risk mitigation at multiple time points during production.  

Supply Chain Management and Raw Material Testing 

• Ensure poultry and milk suppliers have HPAI H5N1 surveillance and control measures. 
• Implement traceability systems for raw poultry ingredients and all dairy ingredients. 
• Regularly test high-risk raw poultry and dairy materials for HPAI H5N1 using PCR if utilizing a pet food manufacturing process other than extrusion, canning or baking. 

Processing and Manufacturing 

• Implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). 
• Use heat treatment for all poultry meat and eggs (approved temperatures and times are found here) and high-heat short-time (HTST) continuous-flow pasteurization of milk products (study found here). This is readily surpassed with the use of extrusion (kibble), retort (canning), or cooking to an internal temperature of 165 F. 
• Use heat and high-pressure pasteurization (HPP) protocol. Note: Due to the variances in HPP (high pressure, nonthermal) and irradiation procedures, there is mixed data on the ability of these processes to inactivate viruses. Finished product testing is essential if these methods are used. 
• Freeze-drying pet food without other proven pathogen control procedures will not inactivate HPAI H5NI. 
• Ensure that raw ingredients (especially avian and dairy) do not come into contact with finished pet food products. 

Quality Control and Assurance 

• Conduct regular audits and inspections. 
• Train staff on HPAI H5N1 risks and protocols, as humans can inadvertently spread the virus through contact and poor sanitation procedures. 
• Implement a Finished Product Test and Hold procedure for HPAI H5N1 using PCR for food manufacturing processes other than extrusion, canning or baking. 

Communication and Transparency 

• Inform customers of HPAI H5N1 risks and mitigation efforts. These are uncertain times for your customers. Ensure they know the measures you are taking to protect their products.  
• Collaborate with regulatory agencies and industry associations to stay on top of the most recent recommendations for mitigation and developments in the spread of this disease.  

Research and Development 

• Investigate novel processing methods and technologies. This is of particular importance to those companies that sell “raw” foods. Currently, there is no known mitigation step for these products that is 100% effective without the use of heat processing.  
• Support academic research on HPAI H5N1 transmission and prevention.  

Mitigation Strategies for Pet Owners 

Just as there are best practices for pet food manufacturers, there are steps we can take as pet owners to reduce the risk of HPAI H5N1 exposure. 

Selecting A Food 

• Choose to feed food brands that can verify their products are made using processes that inactivate H5N1 as well as other pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. 
• Feed food formats that have a heat processing mitigation step. This would include all kibble and canned food. If feeding an alternative food format such as gently cooked, air-dried, or freeze-dried feed products, select those that ensure the product has undergone heating at a temperature of 165 F for a minimum of 9 minutes, or has undergone another proven inactivation process for HPAI H5N1 that has been verified through testing. 
• Do not feed raw pet foods or dairy products to pets that have not undergone a proven inactivation process for HPAI H5N1. 

Hygiene and Cleaning  

• Wash hands before and after handling pet food, as well as utensils and surfaces that have come in contact with the food.  
• Clean and disinfect food and water bowls regularly with pet-safe disinfectants. 
• Avoid cross-contamination by storing pet food separately from other food products. 
• Follow storage guidelines and keep pet food in sealed containers, protected from moisture and pests. 

Pet Care Precautions 

• Monitor the health of your pet and watch for HPAI H5N1 symptoms (respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological issues). Immediately report suspicious symptoms and the exposure risks for your pet to your veterinarian. 
• When possible, keep cats indoors to reduce exposure to potentially contaminated outdoor environments. Keep pets that do go outdoors away from wild birds, poultry, and cattle, and their environments. 
• Avoid contact with wild birds for you and your pets. Prevent interactions with wild birds, alive and especially deceased, that may potentially carry HPAI H5N1.  
• Prevent pets from eating dead birds or other animals. 
• Prevent pets from coming into contact with wild or domestic bird waste. 

Information and Resources 

• Stay Informed: Follow reliable sources (USDA, AVMA, CDC, WOAH) for HPAI H5N1 updates. 
• Pet Food Recalls: Check for recalls due to HPAI H5N1 contamination. 
• Local Regulations: Familiarize yourself with local HPAI H5N1 guidelines and restrictions. 

Conclusion 

Protecting pet health in these situations demands proactive measures. By acknowledging the risks and acting preemptively, pet food companies and pet owners can significantly reduce the threat of HPAI H5N1 to dogs and cats.  

Collaboration between companies, regulatory agencies, and research institutions is vital. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and it is imperative that companies are responding as new information emerges. As pet owners, choosing brands that prioritize HPAI H5N1 safety and staying informed about emerging risks can help ensure the well-being of our furry companions.  

For pet food companies who need help navigating this uncertain time regarding avian influenza, the experts at BSM Partners can help with formula and process evaluation, testing protocols, as well as brand messaging to help customers understand how you are addressing these important issues. 

Want to know more? Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or tune in to the Barking Mad podcast, and stay tuned for an exciting opportunity to join the BSM Partners team in a webinar aimed at answering your questions about HPAI H5N1. This webinar will be live soon. 

References 

1. Avian Influenza - WOAH - World Organization for Animal Health. WOAH - World Organization for Animal Health. Accessed January 3, 2025. https://www.woah.org/en/disease/avian-influenza/ 
2. OFFLU. OFFLU call to discuss Avian Influenza events in mammals. Published March 2, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2025. https://www.offlu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OFFLU-call-AI-mammals-Mar2023.pdf 
3. Avian influenza in pets and backyard flocks | American Veterinary Medical Association. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed January 3, 2025. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-companion-animals 
4. Grove SF, Lee A, Lewis T, Stewart CM, Chen H, Hoover DG. Inactivation of Foodborne Viruses of Significance by High Pressure and Other Processes. Journal of Food Protection. 2006;(4):957-968. doi:10.4315/0362-028x-69.4.957 

Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest updates on all things happening here at BSM Partners.

About the Authors

Dr. Katy Miller works as the Director of Veterinary Services at BSM Partners. She earned her veterinary degree at Ross University and completed her clinical year at Louisiana State University. She previously served for 11 years as the Director of Dog and Cat Health and Nutrition for Mud Bay where she earned multiple certifications and specialized in pet food nutriton, prior to which she practiced general and emergency medicine for seven years. She is also a competitive three-day eventer, licensed falconer, and claims only two (Golden and Mini Doxie) of their nine dogs.

Dr. Bradley Quest, DVM, is the Principal Veterinarian at BSM Partners. He has practiced veterinary medicine, developed and tested hundreds of pet health products, and helps navigate pet food ingredient approval for clients.