Indoor pet dies from bird flu exposure; contaminated food recalled

For many RVers, their pets are family. Keeping a close eye on the health of family members is a top priority. With that in mind, pet food companies warn those with feline family members of a pet food recall after an Oregon family lost their cat to H5N1 bird flu after eating raw frozen pet food. Pet food and bird flu are the latest concern.

Pet food and bird flu: Nationwide recall the result

A voluntary recall of Northwest Naturals Brand 2 lb. Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food has been issued. (This is also labeled as a “Protein boost topper for dogs”.) The recall is due to the detection of H5N1 bird flu virus in product samples.

The product was sold nationwide through distributors in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington. It has also been sold in British Columbia, Canada.

The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1.

Customers who have purchased the recalled product should immediately discard the product and contact the place of purchase for a full refund.

For additional information or questions, customers may contact Northwest Naturals of Portland. Email: info@nw-naturals.net or phone 866-637-1872 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

What to do if your pet ate this

Have you fed your pet any of the suspected pet food? Here’s what authorities say you should do. Carefully keep an eye on your cat and notice if they’re experiencing any symptoms. If they are, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

Symptoms in cats infected with H5 bird flu may vary and include:

• Loss of appetite
• Tiredness
• Respiratory and/or neurological signs

Pet food not the only concern: Raw milk warning

In addition to the recalled pet food, there’s another warning. Authorities also say pet owners whose pets have consumed raw milk should keep an eye open for symptoms.

Los Angeles, California, county health officials have published this advice: “Residents should avoid consumption of all raw milk and raw meat products and not feed these to their pets. Raw dairy, meat and poultry products, can harbor harmful bacteria and viruses, including H5 bird flu, which can pose serious risks to your health and the health of your pets. While consuming raw milk and meat products is never advised from a public health standpoint, the risk is especially concerning at this time, given the ongoing spread of bird flu virus among dairy cattle and following recent multiple detections of the virus in raw milk products.”

Pet food and bird flu – challenging times for pet parents.

##RVT1189b