[quote]
For all the attention that has whirled around H1N1 in recent months, it seems that one vulnerable, and furry, population may have been overlooked: the family pet.
On Wednesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health reported the first confirmed case of H1N1 in a house pet, a 13-year-old domestic shorthaired cat. The animal likely contracted the virus from its owners, veterinarians say, since two of the three family members living in the cat's household had recently suffered from influenza-like illness. Late last week, when the cat came down with flu-like symptoms — malaise, loss of appetite — its owners brought it to Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine for treatment. The family mentioned to the vet that they had also recently battled illness, which led to testing the pet for H1N1.
More at: [url=http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1934826,00.html]I Can Has Swine Flu?[/url][/quote]
OH FUCK!
[quote]Some ethical insurance customers may be fearing a pet healthcare crisis as a cat in the US has become the first feline fatality of the H1N1 virus pandemic.
The ten-year-old male moggy had been brought in to an animal clinic in Oregon with influenza-like symptoms a week before.
Although radiographs and tests suggested pneumonia, the cat's respiratory health worsened and despite being treated with medication and oxygen it died last week, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) revealed yesterday (November 18th).
It is the first feline death but the fifth human-to-animal infection. Two cats have recovered from the illness but a ferret has died.
The OVMA urged calm among pet owners, reminding readers the proportion of animal infections compared to human is very small.
However, the organisation claimed the cat had most likely caught the virus from humans living in their household.
For this reason, it recommended people keep their hands and environment clean, cover their mouth and noses when they sneeze and avoid touching their animals' eyes, nose and mouth.
The American Veterinary Medical Association said investing in pet healthcare now could help stave off the risk of infection.
It also urged people not to be tempted to get rid of their animals.
Animal Friends Pet Insurance are specialist pet insurers who have been insuring Dogs and Cats in the UK since 1999, we are your first choice for Ethical Insurance.
[url=http://www.animalfriends.org.uk/cat_news/first_cat_h1n1_death_in_us_19469462.html]Satanist Cat Owner Magazine[/url][/quote]
[img]http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2009/0911/cat_swine_flu_1104.jpg[/img]
[quote]PORTLAND, Ore. - It’s the first case in the nation: a cat in Lebanon, Ore. dies from the swine flu. Is your pet at risk of getting the H1N1 virus from you and vice versa?
Dave Rebmann said his cat, Buddy, got sick about a week after his niece had battled a case of the flu, presumably H1N1.
“[I] didn’t think much of it,” Rebmann said. “Then he started breathing heavier, started getting concerned. By Wednesday, I guess it was too late.”
Dr. Steve Milner of Milner Veterinarian Hospital in Oregon City said he thinks another cat may have H1N1 as well.
“We want his lungs to look like this,” he said pointing to a black spot on the cat’s X-rays. “This whitish, hazy look is fluid in the lungs.”
Milner said he has a call into the cat’s owners to see if they’ve had a run of the flu in their home in the last week.
“We’re worried about cats, ferrets, pigs obviously, and some birds we worry about,” he said. “For the most part we don’t worry about dogs. It (the flu) seems to like certain species better than others.”
While it is now clear humans can give the virus to pets, can pets give it to humans?
“At this point we haven’t documented the spread from a cat to a person, but to my thinking, it sure is possible,” Milner said.
To prevent the spread between humans and pets, avoid sneezing or coughing on each other, avoid contact with saliva or nasal secretions, limit handling, and wash your hands frequently.
Symptoms to watch for in pets include, coughing, sneezing, lethargy, and swelling and redness around the eyes.
While there is a vaccine for people, a vaccine for pets has not been developed.
[url=http://www.katu.com/news/problemsolver/70598352.html]Inhumane Society[/url][/quote]
[img]http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t199/bernardus_photo/sick_cat_1.jpg[/img]
kitty!
:10bux: FP is going to have more sympathy for the kitty than the people who died of swine.
[QUOTE=Perfumly;18465729]:10bux: FP is going to have more sympathy for the kitty than the people who died of swine.[/QUOTE]
yeah. this.
D:
Not the fucking kitties!
[QUOTE=Perfumly;18465729]:10bux: FP is going to have more sympathy for the kitty than the people who died of swine.[/QUOTE]
We have a cat hater in here already.
[QUOTE=Perfumly;18465729]:10bux: FP is going to have more sympathy for the kitty than the people who died of swine.[/QUOTE]
But... but...
They're kitties! :ohdear:
[QUOTE=jalit;18465748]We have a cat hater in here already.[/QUOTE]
Where did I imply that I hate cats?
Having more sympathy for a human being than a cat doesn't mean I hate cats.
Not the kitties!
I'm starting a cat pig flu vaccine organization. Contact me on steam to send me money. I'll also need all of the scientists from the internet.
:crying: Oh god why...
This damn flu is going to kill us all. Now it's attacking innocent animals.
[QUOTE=Perfumly;18465729]:10bux: FP is going to have more sympathy for the kitty than the people who died of swine.[/QUOTE]
Sad, but true.
Poor cat.
[QUOTE=Perfumly;18465729]:10bux: FP is going to have more sympathy for the kitty than the people who died of swine.[/QUOTE]
I can't relate to those people. They're just news, same as all that middle-east shit.
But I love cats.
It's surprising how people give more shit about a cat than a human.
I accept cats but still, humans do have more use than cats.
Fuck, that's where I live.
Oh fuck, once all the cats and dogs are dead, we'll start having apes as pets, then pretty soon they will begin to get smarter and speak like humans, and eventually Planet of the Apes will happen, and cycle in a never-ending time paradox loop!
For whoever rated me dumb: If you watch all 5 Planet of the Apes films, this is what actually happens.
What a catastrophe.
[QUOTE=Benie;18465810]:crying: Oh god why...
This damn flu is going to kill us all. Now it's attacking innocent animals.[/QUOTE]
Just be thankful it doesn't turn people into zombies. It could be a LOT worse, trust us.
But still, it's a shame that the cat died. I'm not really comfortable with cats dying...
Holy shit, this is one hell of a mobile virus.
That last picture made me d'awww.
Daw. Kitty got sick. :<
[QUOTE=Perfumly;18465770]Where did I imply that I hate cats?
Having more sympathy for a human being than a cat doesn't mean I hate cats.[/QUOTE]
uhm yes it does
cat hater
Not not the kittys!
Anything but the kittys...and the puppies...and the small cute animals...
Cat flu. :saddowns:
Now I'm worried about my kitten.
:frown:
ITT: Everyone on Facepunch is a crazy cat lady
[editline]03:34AM[/editline]
Including me. :ohdear:
[QUOTE=Perfumly;18465729]:10bux: FP is going to have more sympathy for the kitty than the people who died of swine.[/QUOTE]
[img]http://hurffsafk[/img]
i'd usually say dogs > cats in this situation but that does kind of suck.
poor cat.
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