For the first time ever a domestic dog in Canada has tested postive for avian influenza.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a joint statement with the Public Health Agency of CAnada which says a domestic dog in Oshawa, Ontario was found to have been infected with avian influenza after chewing on a wild goose and died after developing clinical signs.

The CFIA says the number of documented cases of avian influenza H5N1 in non-avian species, such as cats and dogs is low and the risk to the general public remain low.

The CFIA statest that no domestically acquired human cases of avian influenza have been reported in Canada. Cases of avian influenza among humans are rare and almost always acquired through direct contact with infected birds or exposure to heavily contaminated environments and there has been no evidence of person to person spread.

Pet owners of cats and dogs are advised not to feed pets raw meat from game birds or poultry. Don’t allow pets to consume or play with dead wild birds found outside.