{"id":99,"date":"2025-02-26T17:03:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T17:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coalcreekanimalhospital.com\/blog\/?p=99"},"modified":"2025-02-26T21:04:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T21:04:37","slug":"keep-your-pets-safe-from-hpai-what-you-need-to-know-%f0%9f%a6%a0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coalcreekanimalhospital.com\/blog\/keep-your-pets-safe-from-hpai-what-you-need-to-know-%f0%9f%a6%a0\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Your Pets Safe from HPAI: What You Need to Know \ud83e\udda0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At Coal Creek Animal Hospital, your pet’s safety is our top priority. Recently, a wild goose in Louisville tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)<\/strong>. Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) is urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets. While the risk to humans remains low, it’s essential to be cautious around wild birds and practice safe habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd9c What is HPAI?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n


HPAI is a viral disease that primarily affects wild birds, but it can spread to domestic animals. It\u2019s highly contagious among birds and can be transmitted through contact with infected birds, their droppings, or contaminated surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"dog\"How to Protect Your Pets:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Avoid contact with wild birds<\/strong> \u2013 Keep your pets indoors or on a leash when outside, especially near areas with wild bird activity. Don\u2019t let your pet approach sick or dead birds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Clean your pet\u2019s paws and fur<\/strong> \u2013 After outdoor time, wipe your pet\u2019s paws and fur to remove any potential contamination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Wipe your shoes or leave them outside<\/strong> \u2013 Make sure to wipe your shoes before entering the house or leave your shoes in a bin outside to avoid bringing in any virus particles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Avoid feeding raw diets or milk<\/strong> \u2013 Pets may become infected if they drink under pasteurized milk, or eat raw or undercooked meat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Be cautious with bird feeders<\/strong> \u2013 Consider temporarily removing bird feeders and baths to reduce attracting wild birds that may carry the virus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Monitor for illness:<\/strong> Watch for signs of illness in birds and report any suspicious symptoms to the State Veterinarian\u2019s Office at 303-869-9130 or using the reportable disease case report form<\/a>. Please contact your veterinarian if you observe any of the following signs in your own pets.\u2002\u2002<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n