The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that a Washington state pet food company is recalling one of its products because it may be contaminated by bird flu. This is the third recall related to H5N1, also known as avian influenza in just four months.
Wild Coast Raw recalls its frozen boneless free range chicken recipe in 16-ounce and 24-ounce sizes.
If you have the following numbers on the stickers on the lid, you should dispose of them immediately.
- #22660
- #22653
- #22641
- #22639
- #22672
- #22664
According to the announcement, the recall includes other original projects of the company, which contain codes for #22660 and #22664.
A message on the company’s website states that after you discard the product, you should return to the place of purchase to get a refund. The company also noted that “the transition to fully cooked poultry recipes have been made to eliminate any potential risks. Cooking the original product to an internal temperature of 165 degrees kills bacteria and viruses, including H5N1. These new recipes will be available indefinitely.
Wild Coast original recall is the third time in four months
After another cat died last December, another company, Northwest Naturals, recalled its original turkey pet food. In the same month, Los Angeles County issued a statement urging pet owners to avoid monarchical pet food, noting that samples in it also detected the virus.
As the bird flu continues to spread between poultry and cattle, cat owners are on high alert because cats have higher mortality rates when infected by the virus compared to dogs. This is how to keep them safe.
How do cats get infected with bird flu?
Bird flu is spread from infected animals, mucus and feces. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, a raw diet that feeds cats increases the risk of viral infection, and cats are more likely to catch the virus than dogs.
“The ideal thing is to [food] Whatever the temperature of the cook, cook it long enough to kill the organism.
Pets who go outdoors can also get the virus by eating or touching birds infected with the flu.
“I’m not a big fan of the original diet in general,” Ezioni said.
How to protect your cat from bird flu?
Experts say one of the best ways to protect cats from bird flu is to keep them indoors. This reduces the risk by reducing exposure to wild birds or other animals infected with the virus. Many people, including Ezoni, also recommend your pet’s raw diet. There is currently no vaccine that protects cats from bird flu
What does cat flu look like in cats?
According to AVMA, symptoms of influenza in birds include, but are not limited to, lethargy, loss of appetite, inflammation of the eyes and discharge of the eyes.
“If it has a nervous system, they may also start circles, which is something birds can do, too,” Ezioni said. Other signs of the nervous system may include seizures and incoordination.
If you suspect your cat has been infected with the bird flu, contact your veterinarian immediately to ask what steps you should take. According to the FDA, the chances of your bird flu from infected original pet food and/or infected pets are low, but this is not entirely impossible.
“Although no human infection has been found in people who process raw food, people may get infected if the virus enters the eyes, nose or mouth,” the latest announcement pointed out by the FDA said.
According to the CDC, mild symptoms of influenza in humans include conjunctivitis, cough, sore throat, mild fever, runny nose or nose, muscle or body aches and headaches.
