Pets, Raw Diets, and H5N1

At Reber Ranch, we’ve been dedicated to providing top-quality nutrition options for pets for years. We’re strong advocates of raw and freeze-dried foods for dogs and cats because these diets offer significant health advantages with minimal risks. While no food—whether for people or pets—is completely free from risks, our trusted raw and freeze-dried food brands go above and beyond FDA food safety standards. Each batch is carefully tested for pathogens, and as new concerns such as bird flu arise, we expect our partners to integrate these tests into their rigorous safety procedures.

What You Should Know About Bird Flu and Pet Food Bird flu has been an issue in the U.S. poultry industry for over a century, with the latest outbreak beginning in 2022. Recently, the Oregon Department of Agriculture linked the unfortunate death of a domestic cat to a raw cat food product that contained the bird flu virus. This marked the first recorded instance of a pet contracting bird flu from raw or freeze-dried food. Two batches of Northwest Naturals Nibbles Raw Frozen Cat Food Turkey tested positive for the virus and were recalled. These batches have "Best By" dates of 05/20/26 B10 and 06/23/26 B1. If you have purchased these products, please return them to the store for a full refund.

At Reber Ranch, we partner with some of the best raw pet food brands in the industry, but we do not carry this specific Northwest Naturals product. We remain confident in the safety and quality of the raw and freeze-dried options we offer.

Understanding the Risks of Bird Flu with Raw and Freeze-Dried Foods We understand that pet owners may have concerns, so here are the important points to keep in mind:

• It is uncommon for cats and exceedingly rare for dogs to contract bird flu.

• In most cases, pets are exposed to bird flu through contact with wild birds or their droppings rather than pet food.

• To date, only one documented case links pet food to a bird flu infection.

• All the raw and freeze-dried pet foods we offer are made with processes that eliminate pathogens and are batch-tested for harmful bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Many of our partners are now adding bird flu testing to their safety protocols.

Thanks to these measures, the risk of pets contracting bird flu from our raw and freeze-dried foods is extremely low.

How to Further Minimize Risk While the risk of bird flu from raw and freeze-dried diets at Reber Ranch is minimal, there are additional steps you can take to further protect your pets:

1. Minimize Contact with Wild Birds: Keep pets away from wild birds and their droppings, as this remains the primary source of exposure to bird flu.

2. Choose Foods Tested for Bird Flu: Many of our trusted manufacturers are now incorporating bird flu testing. Keep an eye out for updates on the brands we carry as they enhance their safety measures.

3. Consider Cooked or Air-Dried Diets: For an extra layer of protection, gently cooked and air-dried diets offer many of the nutritional benefits of raw diets but are processed at higher temperatures.

4. Follow Safe Handling Practices: Always store frozen pet food correctly and thaw it in the refrigerator before feeding. Wash your hands, food bowls, and water bowls with soap and warm water after feeding.

While heating raw food to 165°F at home can kill bird flu viruses, we do not recommend this as it may diminish the food’s nutrient content and create other risks, such as brittle bones in formulas containing bone.

Brands Taking the Lead on Bird Flu Testing We’re proud to work with manufacturers who prioritize safety. Some of our partners are already testing poultry-based formulas for bird flu. These include:

• Primal Pet Foods (currently testing their Raw Goat Milk products)

At Reber Ranch, our mission is to provide safe, healthy, and high-quality nutrition for your pets. If you have any questions or concerns about raw or freeze-dried diets, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Your pet’s well-being is our top priority.