Evergreen Reporter

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) have issued a warning to pet owners about the dangers associated with raw pet food. This follows an incident where indoor cats in Oregon contracted highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI or H5N1) after consuming raw pet food.

In response to the severity of their illness, the cat owners, advised by veterinarians, decided to euthanize the affected animals. Investigations revealed that all the sick cats had consumed the same brand of raw pet food prior to falling ill.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture collected samples from both living and deceased cats, as well as from open containers of the implicated raw pet food. Testing conducted by the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University and by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed HPAI presence in both cats and food samples.

Following these findings, WSDA conducted further tests on unopened containers of Wild Coast Raw pet food. Consumers are advised to verify lot numbers on Wild Coast, LLC products they may have at home. Detailed information and specific lot numbers can be found on the Washington State Department of Agriculture's recalls and health alerts webpage.

Symptoms in pets infected with H5N1 include fever, lethargy, low appetite, eye inflammation or discharge, respiratory difficulties, and neurological signs such as tremors or seizures. Pet owners whose animals show these symptoms after consuming this product should contact their veterinarian immediately.

Although no human infections have been reported among those handling contaminated raw pet food products, there is a risk if individuals come into contact with contaminated surfaces or fail to wash hands thoroughly afterward. The current risk to human health is considered low; however, those exposed should monitor for symptoms like conjunctivitis, respiratory issues, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress among others. Affected individuals are urged to seek medical advice promptly.