Bird Flu and Domestic Pets

Caged Birds

If you have caged birds in your home, your chances of catching bird flu from them are almost zero. Even if bird flu were to develop in your area, it is highly unlikely that your pet birds would come into contact with any infected birds as long as you keep your pet birds indoors.

Cats

While pet birds aren’t likely to transmit bird flu, cats are an entirely different story. Studies have shown that cats can become infected from the bird flu virus if they eat an infected bird. If the virus were to somehow travel from your cat to you, you may then become infected with the virus. If the bird flu does break out in your area, you are going to want to take measures to keep your cat indoors to prevent it from contracting the disease.

Dogs

While dogs aren’t as likely to transmit bird flu as cats are, there may still be some risk. While it was previously thought that dogs could not become infected with the bird flu virus, that theory was proven wrong when a dog died from the bird flu in an Azerbaijan village. Whether or not it is possible for the bird flu to be transmitted from dogs to humans is a matter of whether or not the virus mutates.

Focus on the Present

It’s important to understand that as of right now, a person’s chances of getting bird flu from their pets are pretty much nonexistent. If and when scientists discover otherwise or the bird flu mutates, that is when appropriate measures should be taken to protect your pets and your family from the bird flu illness.