On the surface, you may wonder if a dog can get avian flu, but suddenly you don’t do that when humans, cows, cats and other mammals realize they’ll get the fatal H5N1 virus . It seems strange to worry about our dogs.
Avian influenza, more commonly known as “avian influenza” or H5N1, is a highly contagious disease with sporadic outbreaks around the world.1 It has a devastating impact on the poultry industry and the population of wildlife. Historically, the disease is known to spread from bird to bird and sometimes from bird to mammal, but recent outbreaks have shown signs of a worrying change in the virus. Direct exposure to infected animals.2
Although the severity of clinical signs in both humans and cattle was generally relatively mild, as of January 22, 2025, CATS 2 had 68 confirmed cases of H5N1. Fatal. Most of these cases are thought to be infected with the virus through the consumption of unpasteurized milk and raw meat, and some manufacturers of raw cat foods have a voluntary effect on products that are at risk of contamination. Recalls are issued.3
It is natural to be concerned about the risks to your dog mates, knowing that your cat has contracted the avian flu and is seriously affected.
So can a dog get avian flu?
Yes, dog can You get avian flu, but no cases have been reported to date.
Learn how your current avian flu situation will affect your dog, what signs to look at, and the steps you can take to keep your pets and family safe.
What is bird flu?
Avian influenza is the infectious form of influenza viruses that rapidly spread bird populations. Fatal speeds are high and when detected on farms, they are constantly connected to the affected bird population and the cul of the bird population within contact. Over the years there have been several strains of avian influenza virus,4 include:
- H5N1 (after 1997)
- H7N9 (2013 and later)
- H5N6 (2014 and later)
- H5N8 (2016 and later)
H5N1 is the cause of the current outbreak. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the influenza virus, outbreaks occur regularly and continue. And what worries me about the world is the ability to adapt and mutate.
What are the signs of avian flu?
Signs of N5N1 vary between species, with birds showing the most severe form and highest lethal speed.
| Clinical signs of avian influenza (H5N1) infection | |
| bird |
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| cattle |
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| human |
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| cat |
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| dog |
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Can a dog get the bird flu?
Dog tested positive for H5N1 Areas affected by the outbreak of avian influenza and when they were infected experimentally, but in either case no animals showed clinical signs of infection. However, in 2006, experimental infection in dogs with horse influenza H3N8 resulted in similar asymptomatic outcomes, whereas dogs infected naturally exhibited severe clinical signs and high mortality rates .
For our dogs, it’s good that the current avian flu doesn’t seem to cause clinical disease, but it can carry and communicate the virus. With this in mind, we still need to be vigilant and keep dogs away from suspected cases of avian flu.
How is avian influenza diagnosed?
If you believe your pet is infected or is exposed to the avian flu, contact your veterinarian immediately for advice. CDC.
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The risk of infection from pets is low, but it is not impossible, so protecting yourself and your family is important. A rapid and accurate diagnosis is essential, as neurological signs of H5N1 can mimic rabies signs.
Your veterinarian should contact your local state animal health authorities, state public health veterinarians, or state Veterinary Diagnosis Research Institute Finding where to send a test sample can include mouth swabs, urine, or blood samples.
How is bird flu treated in dogs?
Because it is an influenza virus, there is no specific treatment for H5N1. If a secondary bacterial infection is suspected or diagnosed, antibiotics will be administered, but in most cases supportive care is required.
- Liquid (oral or intravenous)
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Antiseizure drugs
- Countermeasures (to stop vomiting/nausea)
Depending on the type and severity of the clinical signs in your dog.
How can I protect my dog from the bird flu?
The risk of your dog getting H5N1 is currently very low, but there are several steps you can take to keep those risks even lower, and you have other pets in your home If so, these are double important.
- Continue to provide information: Stay up to date with news and current information about bird flu in your area. Subscribe to dogster.com Updates and alerts about this, as well as other pet illnesses.
- There is no raw meat or eggs or unpasteurized milk: Feeding a pet raw diet has some health benefits, but this is a perfect example of why it poses a higher risk. If you want to provide your dog with the overall natural diet benefits, consider fresh food options like farm dogs and nomumon, gently cook human-grade ingredients to remove pathogens, then preservative rot. Freeze to keep fresh without any agents.
Normally, if you are feeding raw, please contact your supplier. Cooking food gently should significantly reduce the risk to your pet, but sorry but it’s better to be safe. Don’t forget to remove the bones before feeding the cooked chicken to your dog.
- Avoid and report sick birds: Contrary to the instincts of animal lovers, if you leave an animal that has been ill or injured, and if you see a bird that feels bad, the safest thing to do is to avoid touching it. Follow the advice of the CDC What should I do next? If possible, you can place cardboard boxes or other items on top of the bird to protect it from predators until it arrives.
- Keep your cat indoors: If you have a cat, keep it indoors because of the risk of spreading the virus from wildlife.
- Store a bowl of food and water indoors: Store your pet bowls in the home to avoid contact and contamination from wildlife.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I get bird flu from a dog?
Technically, yes, it is possible to transmit avian flu to secretions and spread the virus from dogs to humans, but the risk is very low. By maintaining proper hygiene levels, washing your hands after playing with your dog, and avoiding close contact with your face, saliva and urine, it is very unlikely that your dog will be able to inflict bird flu. People suffering from chronic diseases and compromised immune systems must be particularly careful.
Can I give my dog a bird flu?
As mentioned above, that is possible, but the risk is very low. If you are infected or are in contact with the avian flu, reducing contact with your pet, wearing a mask and practicing good hygiene should keep you both safe.
Does the government want to kill my dog?
no! You may have heard that a flock of farming birds is being culled, but this is done to prevent suffering and limit spread of disease. Animals like dogs and cats are at very low risk of spreading the disease, so we don’t be afraid of reporting results. However, cases of pet infections should be documented so that they can better understand how, why, and where the disease is spread.
Final thoughts
Dogs can contract avian flu, but at this stage there are no reports of dogs showing clinical signs of the disease. However, it is important to provide information and stay vigilant, as it may be possible for the virus to mutate into a more virulent form, as we have seen with other viruses such as horse flu. There have been many reported deaths in cats infected with avian flu, so it is important to protect cat friends among them and maintain future bird flu outbreaks.
Practice good hygiene, avoid areas of known outbreaks, and leave sick birds behind is an easy way to keep you and your pet safe, feeding your pet raw meat, eggs, or unripe cow milk Please don’t.
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Featured Image Credits: Mark R Crowoucher, Shutterstock
