Keeping Cats & Dogs Safe from Bird Flu
Petagogy and Healthy Pet Products have recommended feeding cats and dogs raw and freeze-dried foods for over 15 years and we believe their benefits far exceed any limited risks. No food source for humans or pets is entirely risk-free, but the raw and freeze-dried food manufacturers of foods that we carry meet or exceed FDA food safety standards. All of our manufacturers have impeccable records of food safety and take steps to test for and kill pathogens, including Salmonella, Monocytogenes, E. coli, Listeria and Clostridium, and we expect that these foods will soon be tested for bird flu as well. When hearing stories in the media about bird flu, please keep in mind:
The risk to cats and dogs is very low.
On the rare occasions that cats or dogs do contract bird flu, it is usually caused by eating an infected wild bird or wild bird droppings.
There has been only one documented case of a pet contracting bird flu from pet food and that manufacturer promptly voluntarily recalled certain products to ensure the safety of its customers.
The production of all of the dog and cat foods we offer includes one or more steps to kill pathogens including high-pressure processing (HPP). Both HPP and freeze-drying are effective methods for significantly reducing viral activity in pet foods.
There are high-quality alternatives to feeding raw poultry.
Feed an alternate protein. Most of our raw and raw-alternative foods offer non-poultry proteins including pork, beef and fish. Ask a sales associate for recommendations.
Feed a food produced at a higher temperature. Raw and freeze-dried foods are processed at low temperatures to maximize the integrity of the nutrients in their ingredients. Owners who wish to further reduce the possibility of bird flu exposure can feed foods processed at higher temperatures.
Gently cooked and air-dried diets have many of the nutritional benefits and much of the high palatability of raw but are processed at higher temperatures.
Bird flu isn’t new. The virus has impacted the U.S. poultry industry for more than a hundred years, and the most recent epidemic began in 2022. We are working closely with our suppliers and distributors and will continue to monitor this current situation.
Brand Statements on Bird Flu:
Northwest Naturals
Primal Pet Foods
Small Batch
Steve’s Real Food
Source: Adapted from MudBay’s Statement, “How We’re Keeping Cats & Dogs Safe from Bird Flu,” December 30, 2024, Dr. Katy Miller, DVM; Al Puntillo, Mud Bay Co-CEO; Bryan Kramer, Mud Bay Director of Category