Spring migration is in full swing, and with it, bird flu is expected to spread. Wild birds, especially ducks and geese, can carry the virus without looking sick – putting backyard poultry, pet birds, and even some mammals at risk.
Report suspected bird flu cases (2,12). 
If you think your pet might have bird flu, contact your vet immediately. If you think your bird might be infected, report it to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Animal Health office. Anyone that finds a sick or dead wild bird is encouraged to report it to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC).
Sources
- Animals susceptible to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) | Government of Canada | March 2024
- Protect your flock from bird flu | Government of Canada | December 2023
- Avian influenza in pets and backyard flocks | American Veterinary Medical Association
- How to Prevent Bird Flu in Pets: Keeping Your Cats and Dogs Safe | GoodRx | February 2025
- Cat and Dog Food Manufacturers Required to Consider H5N1 in Food Safety Plans | U.S. Food & Drug Administration | January 2025
- Domestic dog tests positive for avian influenza in Canada | Government of Canada | April 2023
- Avian Influenza (AI) – What to expect if your animals are infected | Government of Canada | April 2022
- Bird Flu in Pets and Other Animals | CDC
- Outbreak of Influenza A(H7N2) Among Cats in an Animal Shelter With Cat-to-Human Transmission | Clinical Infectious Diseases | July 2017
- Avian Influenza A(H7N2) Virus in Human Exposed to Sick Cats, New York, USA, 2016(opens PDF) | Emerging Infectious Diseases | December 2017
- Keep your birds safe | Government of Canada | August 2022
- How to prevent and detect disease in small flocks and pet birds | Government of Canada | January 2022
- Avian influenza in wild birds | Government of Canada | October 2024
- Survivability of Influenza A (H5N1) in Milk | Public Health Ontario | June 2024
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