The Bird Flu & What to Know

We're Committed To Keeping Your Pet Safe & You Informed!

At Healthy Spot, we know your dogs and cats are more than just pets, they’re family. That’s why we’re committed to providing product updates and the latest info on recalls or warnings - even from brands we don’t carry! It’s our mission to inspire healthy pet lifestyles and we hope our updates help you feel more confident and informed as a pet parent.

What is the Bird Flu?

• Bird Flu, also known as Avian Influenza, is a respiratory disease of poultry, such as chickens, turkey, ducks and geese, caused by the influenza A viruses. The virus currently affecting the bird and dairy industry is called H5N1.  
• The viruses are often spread by birds between contact with infected birds, their droppings or contaminated surfaces and can potentially make other animals, such as dairy cows, cats and dogs, sick.
• While H5N1 has been circulating for decades, 2024 is the first year that the virus was detected in dairy cows in the United States.
• There has been one reported case of a human becoming infected with the Bird Flu, which, combined with their underlying health conditions, resulted in their death. It has been confirmed that the individual had contact with sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.
• As of now, only two pet food products have been confirmed to contain infected meat. One of the companies, Northwest Naturals, voluntarily recalled the product. Monarch Raw Pet Food, which is sold at farmers markets in California, also had the virus detected in product samples. While we do not currently have either of these products on our shelves, you can learn more about the Northwest Naturals voluntary recall here.
• There has been no detection of person-to-person spreading of the Bird Flu and the CDC’s overall assessment of the immediate risk to the public’s health remains low.