A California man lost two of his cats and nearly a third after feeding them raw milk contaminated with H5N1 bird flu.
The milk, from a Fresno-based company, was recalled after health officials identified the virus. The cats, kept indoors and on conventional diets, showed no other exposure to infected sources.
While the man sought raw milk for its supposed health benefits, the virus tragically caused severe illness and over $12,000 in vet bills.
Experts warn against feeding pets unpasteurized milk or raw diets due to potential contamination risks. The outbreak has impacted dairy herds across 16 U.S. states.
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