At a Glance

The dog in Ontario had chewed on a wild goose before getting sick. The number of documented cases of avian flu in animals other than birds, such as cats and dogs, is low. Pet owners can take steps to protect their cats and dogs.

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In the first case of its kind, a dog in Canada has died with avian flu.

The domestic dog was discovered to beafter it chewed on a wild goose and died, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

A necropsy completed on April 3 showed the dog's respiratory system was involved. The domestic dog lived in Oshawa, Ontario.

It is the only case of its kind in Canada, according to the agencies.

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The number of documented cases of avian influenza H5N1 in animals other than birds, such as cats and dogs, is low.

In the U.S., which is experiencing an outbreak of bird flu in nearly four dozen states, the virus has spilled over to minks, foxes, raccoons, bears and seals. A new strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza has in Colorado since November, state wildlife officials said.

Cases of humans being infected with avian influenza are rare. They are almost always acquired through direct contact with infected birds or exposure to heavily contaminated environment, the Public Health Agency said.

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No domestically acquired human cases of avian flu have been reported in Canada.

In the U.S., a person in Colorado in April 2022. That person person had direct exposure to poultry and was involved in the culling of poultry suspected of having avian influenza, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The person's only symptom was fatigue for a few days and they soon recovered, the CDC said.

Nonetheless, owners are encouraged to take appropriate precautions to protect their pets and themselves.

The Canadian health agency advised pet owners to not feed dogs or cats any raw meat from game birds or poultry and to not allow pets to consume or play with dead wild birds found outside.

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