First Alberta dog dies from bird flu: SPCA

Alberta officials confirmed last week a rare and fatal case of avian influenza in a dog in November. This is only the second such case for Canada.

An Alberta dog has died after contracting avian influenza, marking only the second confirmed fatal case in a domestic dog in Canada.

The Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) confirmed the case Saturday in a social media post.

“A fatal case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in a dog in Alberta—the second confirmed case in Canada,” the organization said.

According to a memo from Alberta’s Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian, the case involved a 10-year-old female goldendoodle that became ill in November 2025 after ingesting a sick snow goose about a week earlier.

The dog was taken to a veterinary clinic with vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite.

Over the following days, the animal’s condition worsened, developing respiratory distress, neurological symptoms and declining oxygen levels despite treatment.

The dog died four days after its initial presentation.

Laboratory testing later confirmed the presence of influenza A H5, and further testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1.

“This is the second detection in a domestic dog in Canada, the first being in Ontario in 2023,” the memo states.

In that earlier case, a dog in Oshawa, Ont., tested positive for avian flu after chewing on a wild goose and later died after developing clinical signs, according to the CFIA.

Veterinary experts say the virus, commonly found in wild birds, is increasingly being detected in mammals.

“We always thought this was a bird virus. But unfortunately, we’re seeing a spillover into animals like skunks, raccoons, polar bears, as well as into people and, unfortunately, into our dogs,” said Alyson Kelvin, an associate professor with the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Kelvin said dogs can be exposed through contact with infected wildlife or contaminated food.

“Dogs can pick up avian influenza from the environment, either from scavenging wild birds or trying to hunt wild birds or other animals,” she said.

“But also any raw meat that we would be feeding our dogs could be contaminated with H5N1.”

The memo notes H5N1 continues to circulate in wild waterfowl across Canada, particularly along migratory flyways, increasing the risk of exposure for mammals.

In dogs, symptoms can include respiratory illness and more severe neurological and gastrointestinal signs.

“Highly pathogenic avian influenza also causes neurological diseases—so seizures, difficulty walking, difficulty with co-ordination—and it can also cause gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhea or vomiting,” Kelvin said.

The Alberta SPCA says while infections in dogs remain rare, pet owners should take precautions, including keeping pets away from wild birds and carcasses, avoiding raw poultry or unpasteurized milk, and contacting a veterinarian if a pet shows respiratory or neurological symptoms.

The dog’s exact origin within Alberta was not disclosed.