Companion animals move into sharper focus in H5N1 response

Companion animals are now part of the H5N1 story, and that’s changing the conversation for small animal practice. Federal and state agencies have warned that cats can develop severe, often fatal disease after exposure to H5N1 through raw milk, raw pet food, infected birds, or contaminated farm environments, while dogs appear less susceptible and, to date, haven’t been reported with U.S. H5N1 detections. In January 2025, the FDA told cat and dog food manufacturers using uncooked or unpasteurized poultry- or cattle-derived ingredients to reanalyze their food safety plans and treat H5N1 as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard, after domestic cat illnesses and deaths linked to contaminated food products. CDC, California public health officials, and Cornell have all separately urged veterinarians and pet parents to avoid raw milk and raw diets for pets and to consider H5N1 in cats with respiratory or neurologic signs, especially when there’s a history of exposure to wild birds, dairy cattle, or raw animal products. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, H5N1 is no longer just a poultry or dairy issue. CDC has advised veterinarians evaluating cats with compatible illness in areas where H5N1 is circulating to use PPE, ask about household occupational exposures, and coordinate testing and reporting because companion animal cases may signal broader One Health risk. Clinical suspicion should be higher in cats with acute neurologic signs, and client education now clearly includes discouraging raw milk and raw pet food, not just limiting wildlife exposure. (cdc.gov)

What to watch: Expect continued scrutiny of raw pet food supply chains, evolving testing guidance, and more emphasis on companion animal surveillance as agencies refine H5N1 risk management. (fda.gov)