12/08/2026
‼️⚠️ PET SAFETY UPDATE ⚠️‼️
🦠 Pets can face severe health risks if they touch, play with, or eat DEAD, SICK or DYING –WILDLIFE, BIRDS and FISH.
🤧With Bird Flu being a main point of discussion at present, we want to make sure pet owners are aware of this AND other potential risks when coming into contact with wildlife.
☠️ Wild animals can carry deadly diseases, toxic poisons, dangerous bacteria, and sharp bones that can hurt and sometimes make your pets very sick and potentially die.
❓Why You Must Keep Pets Away❓
👉Dangerous Diseases and Parasites
⚠️ Bacteria: Rotting meat breeds dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli.
⚠️ Parasites: Fleas, ticks, and worms pass easily from wild animals to pets.
⚠️ Viruses: Sick wildlife may carry deadly viruses that spread through contact or bites.
⚠️ Poisons: Rats or mice that ate poison can poison your pet if eaten.
⚠️ Avian Botulism: Dead waterbirds often carry powerful neurotoxins.
👉Physical Injuries
⚠️ Sharp Bones: Dried or rotting bones splinter easily and choke pets.
⚠️ Punctures: Sharp beaks, spines, or claws can scratch eyes or skin
Regarding Bird Flu
🦠 While the overall risk of H5N1 avian influenza spreading to dogs and cats in Australia remains low, pet owners must stay vigilant.
❓Can Cats and Dogs get bird flu
Yes, but thankfully it is uncommon.
🐶 Dogs and cats aren’t natural hosts for the Avian influenza virus, and infections in either species remain rare around the world.
To date, there have been no confirmed cases in Australian Pets. Dogs appear to be at very low risk.
😺Cats appear to be more susceptible and overseas a small number of domestic cats have contracted H5N1, which has been linked to either having contact with wild birds or eating contaminated raw animal products.
⚠️If your dog or cat touches or eats sick or dying wildlife, move your pet away right away.
⚠️ Watch for signs of illness like low energy, refusal to eat, sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing, wobbliness or loss of co-ordination, seizures, or vomiting.
⚠️ Keep them isolated from other animals and family members, and call your local veterinarian for advice.
⚠️ Report the sick or dead animal to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Mount Barker Veterinary Clinic Call 83911404
