Dog Bird Flu Information Center

Steps to Keep My Dog Safe From Bird Flu
by Polson Enterprises

  This page is part of the Pet Bird Flu Information Center.

First, you can't positively keep your dog safe from Bird Flu, but you can take steps to reduce their exposure to the H5N1 virus. With Avian Flu rapidly spreading around the world, steps to help keep your dog safe depends on where you live. those in countries and regions where Bird Flu has been detected in wild birds and/or poultry face more difficult situations and need to take the most drastic steps. Areas not yet infected are still in the preparation stages and can take more modest steps to reduce their exposure should Bird Flu arrive in their region and to be more prepared for the more serious steps to take if it does arrive in their region.

Next, exactly where you live, how widely your dog ranges, and if your dog is used for hunting greatly influences the risk of infection. Bird Flu is most frequently passed to dogs from chewing on carcasses of dead wild birds or catching live wild birds or poultry. It is possible the disease might also be transmitted dog to dog. Currently, cats have been the greatest cause of concern. Both cats and dogs can be infected, but they appear much less susceptable to it than poultry. Those living near domestic poultry face risks of poultry becoming infected and passing it on to your dogs. Suggestions below will not positively protect your dog, but reading them will make your a more knowledgeable dog owner and better prepared to make the best decisions for your dog's safety. See our Disclaimer.

Note - H5N1 (Avian Flu) is NOT the same disease that jumped from race horses to dogs in Florida in 2004 and is now widely circulating in the U.S. as Canine Influenza / Canine Flu.

Hunting Dogs face many special concerns. They are currently briefly discussed in our Special Issues for Hunting Dogs section.

If you have not yet read our What is Bird Flu page, it would be a good introduction before reading this page.

We have two groups of suggestions below depending on where you live.

Bird Flu HAS BEEN detected in Wild Birds, Poultry or Humans in My Region

These regions are the ones of greatest risk to dogs. The real task is to avoid contact between your dog and wild birds, game birds, and poultry, their feces (poop) or other body secretions.

Several of these regions experiencing bird flu are issuing policies at this time concerning cats and dogs. We strongly suggest you follow any policies issued for your area and any advice from your veterinarian.

We have two additional groups of suggestions for those living in infected areas below. The first is from the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization, the second is from us and our readers.

We also suggest you read the suggestions in the Bird Flu HAS NOT yet been detected in Wild Birds, Poultry or Humans in my Region and apply them as well.

The UNFAO suggestions target cats and are listed below as published by them. You can probably insert the word "dog" for "cat" in most instances in their suggestions.

  • Report to the local veterinary authority any evidence of significant bird mortality both wild and domestic

  • Be especially vigilant for any dead or sick cats and report such findings to the local vet

  • Make sure contact between cats and wild birds or poultry (or their faeces) is avoided and/or keep cats inside

  • If cats bring a sick or dead bird inside the house, put on plastic gloves and dispense of the bird in plastic bags for collection by local veterinary animal handlers

  • Keep stray cats outside the house and avoid contact with them

  • If cats show breathing problems or nasal discharge, a veterinarian should be consulted

  • Do not touch or handle any sick-looking or dead cat (or other animal) and report to the authorities

  • Wash hands with water and soap regularly and especially after handling animals and cleaning their litter boxes or coming in contact with faeces or saliva

  • Dogs can only be taken outside the premises if kept restraint

  • Do not feed any water birds

  • Disinfect (e.g. with bleach 2-3 %) cages or other hardware with which sick animals have been transported or been in contact with.

  • Wash animal blankets with soap or any other commercial detergent

Additional Suggestions from the Dog Bird Flu Information Center & Our Readers

  • Reduce the range of your dog.
  • If poultry share space (yards, fields, barns) with your dog, immediately separate your dog from them. Dogs can contract bird flu directly from infected poultry or from their feces (poop) or other body secretions. Feces and eating infected poultry are thought to be a source of infection for dogs.

  • Keep your dog in your yard. Do not let him/her roam the neighborhood. If you take them for a run, keep them on a leash.

  • Walk your yard after storms to make sure no young birds have blown out of nests before letting your dog out.

  • Do not encourage you dog to eat birds, even if you know they are safe (it makes them more likely to chew on an infected one.)

  • Dont feed uncooked chicken / poultry to your dog (most commercial dog foods are cooked above temperatures required to kill H5N1 virus).
  • Keep the grass mowed down in your yard so you could spot dead birds if they are there.

  • Trim the trees back in your yard if they have grown wildly and often attract large flocks of birds.

  • Run off flocks of birds near your house.

  • Be aggressive about running off stray cats and stray dogs to prevent their interaction with your dog.

  • Consider having male dogs neutered and female dogs spayed if you have not yet done so. This will reduce their interaction with other dogs.

  • When female dogs are in heat, do not let them outside.

  • Consider purchasing a "dog crate" or "dog carrier".

  • Consider constructing an indoor dog enclosure. See details on our Bringing Pets Indoors page.

  • Keep you dog on a leash outdoors if you are in a very high risk area (many wild birds or poultry infected, difficult to make sure the area is clear of wild birds or bird carcass, and difficult to control range of your dog).

  • Check our H5N1 Pet Store for any products you may need to keep your dog safe.

  • Do not let your dog sleep in your bed. The close proximity exposes you to breathing each others exhausted air for many hours, as well as to direct and indirect contact for extended periods.

  • To reduce potential for transmission of the disease either way (pet to human or human to pet) stop kissing your dog or letting it lick you.

  • These suggestions were found in an "H5N1 & Pets" thread on CurEvents.com.

    • Stock up on odor eating enzymes to reduce biological odors, especially on carpets

    • Stock up on flea and tick medications (to help your pet safe and keep them out of your house)

    • Spread out disinfectant (mild bleach and vinegar) for them to walk through before they come back inside

    • Stock up on litter

    • Store water for pets in case water supply goes off

    • Nerf balls are good inside toys

    • Bring them to an area with an ultraviolet light before bringing them back inside

    • Scare off birds with scarecrows, tin pie pans

    • Dead and infected birds may concentrate on lake shores, popular places to run dogs. Do not run dogs there.

    • Train small dogs to use a litter box

    • Dog "booties" for their feet when they go outside - some report sucessfully using infant/baby socks.

    • Rawhide bones for when dogs get bored

    • Stock up on antibiotics for lung infections

  • If you have more than one dog or other pets, if any do become sick, especially with respiratory problems, immediately separate the sick one from the other dog(s).

  • Cleanliness is very important. Try to keep the areas your dog(s) frequent clean or debris, trash, junk and other materials that might hide smaller carriers of the disease or provide surfaces that could be contaminated by infected birds or animals.

  • Bird Flu is an digestive tract and respiratory disease. Litter boxes represent potential transmission points. Keep litter boxes clean and do not let animals that are not yours, use them.

  • Great suggestion from a reader - Bring your own water and water dish with you when you take your dog out, especially out to a dog park or any location where other dogs may be, or may have been hanging around. Drinking water, which is shared with other dogs, and/or drinking out of bowls that other dogs have used or are using, significantly increases the chance of infection from many serious illnesses, including bird flu.

If you have any suggestions you think might be helpful to add to this list, please email them to us.

Some things may be in your favor as you try to protect your dog. First, waterfowl are the most frequent carriers of the disease and dogs rarely interact with them, except in hunting situations. Second, poultry are becoming infected around the world, but many dog owners do not own poultry. Third, the disease is receiving tremendous attention due to its possible human consequences. Some of those efforts may identify additional ways to keep your dog safe. When and if they do, we will post them here.

Good Luck.

Bird Flu HAS NOT yet been Detected in Wild Birds, Poultry or Humans in My Region

At the moment things are much easier for you because you are in the preparation stage. You can begin to accumulate any items you may need, make some changes in the environment around your yard, plus begin to gradually modify the behavior of your dog to make them reduce their exposure to Bird Flu if it comes to your area.

  • Items You Might Wish to Accumulate if You do Not Already Have Them
    • Collar
    • Leash
    • Dog Crate / Dog Carrier if you were considering purchasing one before the news of bird flu
    • A Toy - many dogs like toys. This is a good time to let your dog know you still love them, especially when changes are about to be made in their daily behavior. Spend some extra time with them and help them through the changes.
    • Most of the products listed above can be found in our H5N1 Pet Store.
  • Changes You Might Wish to Make to the Environment Around Your Yard and Home
    • Become more aware of birds in your neighborhood. Especially any waterfowl or poultry. Also keep a lookout for dead birds along the road that may have been hit by cars. Learn the patterns, times and types of birds in your area.

    • Identify any "bird magnets" in your neighborhood like drive in restaurants, statues, and overhead power lines. Begin to formulate a plan to keep your pet away from them.

    • If trees have grown ragged in your yard, trim them back to help prevent large groups of birds from resting or roosting in your trees.

    • Check and repair your fences and dog pen to make sure they keep your dog from escaping or digging out.

    • If birds frequently rest or roost in certain areas of your property, try to make those areas less comfortable to them. Transparent Needle Strips from Bird-X can make roof ledges, signs and window sills much less friendly to birds.

    • Board Up and Seal Up any holes in garages or barns that you dog frequents to keep out wild birds, especially at night.

    • Do Not feed or water birds.

    • Its time to think about "Dog Proofing" the house or garage if you anticipate bringing them indoors to avoid risk to Bird Flu if the disease strikes your area.

    • If you regularly walk or run your dog, become more aware of birds in those areas, especially any waterfowl or poultry. Keep a lookout for dead birds hit by cars. If you regularly encounter waterfowl, poultry or dead birds in the area, you might want to begin searching for a new area to run/walk your dog.

  • Behaviors of Your Dog You Might Wish to Begin to Modify

    • Begin to get them used to wearing a collar

    • Begin to get them used to being on a leash

    • Begin to teach them to heel

    • If they are not housebroken, its a good time to take care of that before they may have to be indoors a while

    • Begin to get them used to being in a crate or carrier from time to time

    • Begin to reign in their territory so you can reduce their exposure to wild birds

    • Dont feed uncooked chicken / poultry to your dog (most commercial dog foods are cooked above temperatures required to kill H5N1 virus).

    • Consider Spaying or Neutering Them if it has not already been done - this will reduce their interaction with other dogs

    • Its a good time to make sure your dog's health concerns are in order (vaccinations, worming, etc).

    • Is your dog in shape? Just like humans, if they do get sick, they are more likely to recover if they are healthy. If you dog is a bit heavy you might want to put them on a diet and give them some more exercise.

    Don't go to extremes to run off all birds at this time. Robins, Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, Humming Birds, Scissortails and many other birds serve useful purposes and beautify the area. Much remains to be learned exactly which ones are good birds and bad birds in terms of bird flu. For the moment, concentrate on water fowl, poultry, pigeons, sparrows, starlings, crows and other birds that are already undesirable in most neighborhoods.

    Once you begin to make these changes, you might want to also read the Tips for Areas Where Bird Flu HAS BEEN Detected and begin thinking about how you might implement them if you need to.

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