Health
Cat owners beware as pet food with bird flu risk is recalled
Cat owners have been alerted to a potential health threat.
Savage Pet of El Cajon, California, is recalling 66 large chicken boxes (84 oz.) and 74 small chicken boxes (21 oz.) with the lot code/”best by” date of 11.15.2026, as these products have “the potential to contain H5N1, also known as bird flu,” according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
The Savage Cat food products were distributed to retailers in five states: California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, the FDA’s website says.
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“People who fed [their] cats the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu, including fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, stiff body movements, seizure, lack of coordination or blindness,” the notice says.
Anyone whose felines exhibit these signs after consuming the product “should immediately contact their veterinarian,” the FDA advises.
Anyone whose cats exhibit certain symptoms, including fever, lethargy and low appetite, “should immediately contact their veterinarian,” the FDA’s website says. Pet owners need to protect themselves from possible infection as well, the site indicates. (iStock)
The FDA indicates that “while no human infections have been identified among people handling raw pet food products, humans can become infected if [the] live virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth.”
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Regular handwashing and cleaning of contact surfaces is highly recommended, the notice also indicates.
“People who handled the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu.”
“People who handled the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu, including eye redness or irritation (conjunctivitis), cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue, fever, trouble breathing, seizures, rash, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting.”
The New York City Health Department issued a statement about three cats (not pictured) potentially becoming infected with bird flu. (iStock)
The notice also says, “People exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare provider and local health department.”
In February, Savage Pet said it was “made aware of one cat in Colorado that contracted H5N1, got sick and recovered.”
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The laboratory at Colorado State University “tested sealed packets of Savage Cat Food using PCR testing for H5N1,” the FDA’s site says.
The PCR test results were “non-negative,” according to the same source.
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“The product with ‘non-negative’ PCR results was sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for virus isolation testing” — and the product was taken off the market pending final test results, the site says.
The company added, as the FDA site indicates, “To ensure maximum safety, we are modifying our market withdrawal to a recall … The product with lot code/’best by’ date of 11.15.2026 was distributed in November 2024.” (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo)
The virus isolation testing was found “to be negative,” it also says.
On March 13, “Savage Pet was made aware of an additional case in New York of a kitten” that ate from lot 11.15.2026 and “contracted avian flu. Further testing is ongoing.”
Previous studies have suggested that H5N1 could be transmitted among cats.
The company added, as the FDA site indicates, “To ensure maximum safety, we are modifying our market withdrawal to a recall … The product with lot code/’best by’ date of 11.15.2026 was distributed in November 2024.”
“The boxes are cardboard and contain individual plastic packets inside. The lot code/’best by’ date is stamped on the bottom and on each packet.”
Potential cat-to-cat transmission
Previous studies have suggested that H5N1 could be transmitted among cats, and a March 15 statement from the New York City Health Department seems to support that possibility.
The statement provided details of two cats that contracted bird flu and a third cat suspected to have it.
“Avian influenza (bird flu) virus was detected in two cats and a suspected third cat over the past two months, all connected to Savage Cat Food, poultry packets lot number 11152026,” the alert read.
“Avian influenza (bird flu) virus was detected in two cats and a suspected third cat over the past two months, all connected to Savage Cat Food, poultry packets lot number 11152026,” read an alert from the New York City Health Department. (iStock)
The first cat, cat A, became ill and died after eating chicken packets from Savage Cat Food.
“Testing for H5 bird flu was performed at the Cornell Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and confirmatory H5N1 testing by the U.S.D.A. National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) is pending.”
A second cat, cat B, was diagnosed with H5N1 and also died as a result of infection, health officials said – but “this cat did not consume the raw food product but was exposed to a sick cat, cat C. Cat C became ill with fever after consuming Savage Cat Food lot number 11152026.”
“Cat C survived and H5 testing was not performed and cannot be performed, as too much time has passed.”
This suggests that cat B may have been infected after contact with cat C.
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Over half of Americans are lying through their teeth — about their teeth.
That’s according to a new survey conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Aspen Dental, which asked 2,000 American adults about their dental hygiene, as reported by SWNS.
The study spoke to the mixed emotions Americans experience when it comes to dental visits, including fear, anxiety and discomfort, which can often lead to delayed care.
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In the poll, 60% of respondents confessed to wanting to impress their dentist during office visits, leading 57% of them to fib about their dental hygiene.
Over half of those in the study confessed to wanting to impress their dentist during office visits. (iStock)
And yet, 48% of people said they believed their dentists could see right through their lies, according to SWNS.
Sixty-four percent of respondents said they felt guilty about their dishonesty. Millennials and Gen Xers felt the least guilty about lying compared to older Americans.
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A third of those who have lied to the dentist (33%) simply didn’t want their dentist to think less of them, while a fifth (19%) said they don’t mean to be dishonest, but that “panic lies” accidentally slip out, especially among Gen Zers (27%), per SWNS.
Obstacles to dental care
Anxiety is the biggest obstacle keeping Americans from visiting the dentist (24%), affecting 29% of women and 17% of men, the survey found.
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Twenty-two percent said the actual dental work put them off, with baby boomers feeling the most uncomfortable in that regard. And 13% have avoided the dentist’s office because they were embarrassed about their poor dental hygiene.
The survey also revealed that nearly a quarter of Americans (22%) had discomfort or soreness in their mouths at least once per week, with millennials experiencing more discomfort than other generations (34%).
More women than men expressed feelings of anxiety when it comes to dental appointments. (iStock)
These factors may contribute to the 45% of respondents who have not visited a dentist in the last year and the nearly one in five Americans (19%) who haven’t seen the inside of a dentist’s office in five years.
Nearly one in five people haven’t seen the inside of a dentist’s office in five years.
“Maintaining adequate oral health can be overwhelming,” Dr. Taylor Sutton, multi-practice owner and practicing dentist at Aspen Dental in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, told SWNS.
“That’s why it’s so important to have a dentist you feel comfortable connecting with, who shows empathy and leaves all judgment at the door.”
After leaving the dentist, respondents reported following improved dental habits for eight days before slipping back into old routines. (iStock)
Dr. Tracy Redden, multi-practice owner and practicing dentist at Aspen Dental in Boston, echoed the importance of proper oral care.
“Neglecting oral hygiene — whatever your reason — can lead to serious health issues,” she told SWNS.
“Your mouth is the gateway to your body that can affect your overall health. Maintaining oral health is not a choice, but a necessity for our overall well-being.”
Dental dos and don’ts
When leaving the dentist’s office determined to maintain better dental health, respondents said their good hygiene habits last only about eight days before they slip back into bad habits.
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Over half of the survey respondents confessed they don’t regularly floss, and nearly seven in 10 said they brush their teeth for less than two minutes per session.
“You may not need to use dental floss as frequently as toothpaste, but it should still be a part of your daily dental cleaning,” Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh of Inglewood Family Dental in Alberta, Canada, said in an email to Fox News Digital.
Millennials and Gen Xers felt the least guilty about lying to their dentists compared to older Americans. (iStock)
“While dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, this is not the only cleaning method you should be using daily. Mouthwash and flossing also play a huge role in keeping your oral hygiene in top condition,” Ravanbakhsh added.
One mistake patients make when cleaning at home is using too much pressure when brushing, according to the doctor.
“You may not need to use dental floss as frequently as toothpaste, but it should still be a part of your daily dental cleaning.”
“Just because you brush your teeth harder does not mean you are giving them a more thorough clean,” he wrote. “In fact, this could damage your teeth and gums.”
To safely and properly clean your teeth, Ravanbakhsh recommends using a manual brush with soft bristles or an electric toothbrush.
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