Important Alert for Cat Owners: Cat Food Product Recalled Due to Bird Flu Risk – What You Need to Know!

Attention cat owners! The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall for some raw cat food due to concerns about bird flu, also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1.

Wild Coast LLC, based in Olympia, Washington, is recalling its 16oz and 24oz ‘Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula’ cat food. This product was sold in pet food stores across Washington and Oregon. The affected containers are small, round, white plastic with a green label, and they have a best buy date of 12/25. Check the lot numbers: #22660, #22653, #22641, #22639, #22672, and #22664. The recall has also been expanded to include other raw materials with similar production dates and codes.

It’s essential to monitor your pets if they’ve eaten the recalled food. Symptoms of bird flu in cats may include:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Poor appetite
• Red or inflamed eyes
• Discharge from eyes or nose
• Difficulty breathing
• Neurological signs such as tremors, stiff movements, seizures, lack of coordination, or blindness

If your cat shows any of these symptoms after consuming the affected food, contact your veterinarian right away. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has noted that cats can be particularly vulnerable to severe illness from bird flu, occasionally leading to death.

As for humans, the FDA has stated that no human infections have been reported from handling raw pet food products. However, there is a potential risk of infection if the virus comes into contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you experience symptoms like eye redness, cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, fatigue, fever, or difficulty breathing after handling the products, seek medical advice from your healthcare provider and inform your local health department.

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