Raw cat food and avian influenza (HPAI)

Cat and dog wellness is our top priority

At All The Best, we’re committed to supporting the well-being of our community, and our beloved cats and dogs. Over the last 40 years, All The Best has guided tens of thousands of dogs and cats in our community toward better health through optimal nutrition. We were the first pet supply store in our area to offer raw dog and cat food, and these biologically appropriate dietary choices continue to be an integral part of our nutritional philosophy. We’ve seen the marked health improvements that a less-processed diet brings again and again.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza

HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza, or avian flu) has been around for many decades. It is most active in the fall and winter and, until recently, has mostly affected birds. Because it is a virus, HPAI mutates quickly and behaves somewhat unpredictably (much like our seasonal flu), and there is a lot that we are still learning.

We have been closely tracking the recent news and are actively gathering information to help us keep our community safe and informed.

We do know that cats are now especially vulnerable to the current strain of the virus when exposed and that one method of transmission to cats is through infected food. There are currently no known cases of domestic dogs being infected with HPAI in the United States.

As far as food goes, HPAI has mostly impacted cattle, poultry (chicken, turkey, and duck), and raw cow’s milk. The USDA has continued to enforce world-class safety measures to help keep avian flu out of the food supply (read more from the Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service).

We stand behind the foods we sell

Although the risk of pathogen contamination in our food supply is never zero, with the information we have, we feel the risk of feeding our premium raw pet foods is still low, and it is even lower in our cooked foods. All The Best will continue to guarantee the products we sell (read more about our return policy). At the time of this update, we feel the benefits of feeding raw outweigh the risks.

About the Northwest Naturals recall

On December 24, 2024, Northwest Naturals issued a voluntary recall of two lots of their raw frozen turkey cat food after a cat became ill and died from avian flu (read more about the recall), and the bag of food fed to the cat tested positive for the virus.

All The Best does not carry that specific food, but we do carry Northwest Naturals frozen raw dog food and freeze-dried raw diets, none of which are part of the recall or show any evidence of contamination. Northwest Naturals produces all their raw food in a facility with full-time USDA employees on-site and under USDA supervision. They continue to be a trusted raw food partner for All The Best.

At the time of this update, this remains the only report of avian flu illness in a pet from that food, or any other commercially prepared raw food with good manufacturing and sourcing practices. Northwest Naturals is working with the Oregon Department of Agriculture to determine how the virus may have survived their many safety points.

Steps we’re taking to ensure safety and provide transparency

In addition to gathering statements from our raw pet food partners, we are committed to ensuring the safety of our own private-label products. The freeze-dried treats with the “All The Best” name are all held at 165°F prior to freeze-drying to eliminate pathogens, including avian flu. We will be having all of our Wisely local raw goat milk tested at the government level for avian flu. We will take any steps in the future that may help to control the virus and reduce its potential impact on pets.

Commercial raw food safety

All The Best maintains close relationships with our raw food partners and trusts that they are doing all they can to provide foods that are safe and healthy for our pets. Because we exclusively carry only top-quality foods, all of our raw food partners implement several or all of the following points of safety:

Safe sourcing from human-grade farms and USDA-inspected facilities
Ingredient traceability
Optimal manufacturing practices, including hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) plans, Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification, and/or full-time USDA staff on-site
High-pressure processing (HPP), which has been shown to kill a variety of pathogenic bacteria and viruses, including previous strains of avian flu
Batch testing for pathogens (currently bacterial and fungal, though we anticipate large-scale testing for avian flu to be available and utilized soon)

Statements from our raw food brands

Steve’s Real Food and Quest

Tucker’s Raw

Wild Coast Raw

We’re here to help you make the right feeding decision for your dog or cat

We fully support you in making your own informed decisions about your pets’ well-being. Raw food is not the only good option. If you would like to explore new food options, we will help you find excellent alternatives. Stop into any All The Best Pet Care location and speak with a pet care specialist.

We will continue to update our web page as we learn more.

Q&A

Is raw food safe to feed?

All food carries some kind of risk, including raw food. The evidence we have suggests the risk of the raw food we carry passing on avian flu is quite low, and we continue to stand by the brands we carry and feed to our own pets. We believe strongly in the benefits of feeding top-quality, USDA-inspected raw foods for both cats and dogs and we will continue to provide that option for our customers and their pets.

Is avian flu dangerous to dogs?

At the time of this update, avian flu presents a very low risk to dogs overall, both from food and other sources, and there are currently no known cases of domestic dogs being infected with HPAI in the United States. We recommend taking common-sense precautions, such as limiting your dog’s exposure to wild birds and their droppings, especially if you also have cats.

What is being done to prevent avian flu from entering the raw food supply?

The USDA, FDA, and CDC have been closely monitoring avian flu for decades. All commercial poultry and beef is tested for avian flu before slaughter, and no meat from farms with infected animals may be used in food, which minimizes the risk of the virus entering the food supply. Each of our raw pet food partners implements additional biosecurity measures (see linked statements above).

Does cooking kill avian flu?

Cooking food to an internal temperature of 165°F has been shown to effectively eliminate avian flu. Cooked foods for pets include all canned, Tetra Pak, and pouch foods, frozen and fresh gently cooked foods, air-dried foods, most dehydrated foods, and most dry kibble. At this time, we do not recommend cooking commercially available raw pet foods long-term due to the risk of altering their nutrient balance.

What else can I do?

The biggest risk factor for cats contracting avian flu is contact with wild birds. Restrict your cat’s access and exposure to wild birds, including their droppings and water sources.

What has the FDA said about raw pet food?

The FDA currently recommends avoiding feeding cats any raw products from farms affected by the HPAI virus. None of All The Best’s raw food brands source from affected farms.