Personal note: I personally feel that several people who have received tularemia, confirmed by CDC for being exposed to the bacteria while working on a pet food (from pets made). Because of this experience of the disease, I have more than an average concern when tulars are reported publicly.
Minnesota Department of Health stated the following in a press release on July 24, 2025:
“It is important for pet owners to be aware of this disease in their pets, as it is possible for a person to become infected as well,” said Maria Bye, seniopidemiologist in zoonotic diseases at MDH.
The disease: Tularemia.
Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) “Traces an increase in tulars in humans and companions (especially cats) over Minnesota.” The state reports 5 cases of tularemia in humans so far this year (2025), but they did not reveal how many pets have been diagnosed this year.
By 2024, the state of Minnesota had a total of 5 human diseases and 27 animal diseases reported. “Twenty animal cases were in house cats, five in household dogs and one in a wild rabbit.”
Minnesota press release says: “Tularemia is a potentially serious illness in animals and humans and occurs naturally in Minnesota. It is caused by the bacterium francisella tularensis, which can be found in wildlife, especially rabbits, squirrels, beavers, muscles and other rodents. Pets are usually exposed to tulare by chasing these animals.
But…
My personal experience proves that there is another possible exposure to tularemia that is ignored by the medical community and the pet food's regulatory society … Makes sick animals into pet food ingredients. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed for several employees for pet manufacturing that their exposure to tularemia was made for pet food ingredients at pet food.
Although the FDA is fully aware that several pet manufacturing employees were exposed to and sick by tularemia from pet food ingredients, the agency still allows sick animals, dead/non-slaughtered animals with unknown diseases to be made into pet foods and sold to pet owners without warning or disclosure.
We have previously produced the FDA with regard to their permission of sick/sick animals that are treated as pet food ingredients. FDA's response:
“We do not believe that the use of sick animals or animals that died other than through slaughter to make animal food constitutes a safety problem and we intend to continue to exercise enforcement.”
We have asked the FDA for their science that proves the agency ”believe“That pet food ingredients from sick animals are safe for pets to consume. Their response to our request for scientific evidence: “We could not find the requested documents.”
We submitted another citizenship to the FDA in June 2022 – based on the requirements for federal law – to require disclosure on pet mattic labels when ingredients are feed quality (potential to be of inferior quality including collection from sick animals). Three years later, the FDA has not responded to our presentation.
We adopt the medical community that monitors tularemia – just like as many pet owners – has no knowledge that the FDA allows sick animals and animals that have died other than slaughter that (illegally) is processed as pet food ingredients. We assume that the medical community is completely unconscious that ingredients for pets have been responsible for human tularemi disease in the past.
We sent an e -mail message to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and urged the agency to track pet foods consumed by diagnosed animals. It is unknown whether the agency will take our advice.
While we are waiting for one of the authority to do the right thing (such as executing federal law, informing proper pet consumers about what they buy and properly trace tulare -case), was aware of the symptoms of tularemia.
Symptoms in pets: “Signs of illness in animals include high fever, weakness, lack of appetite, skin or cold sores and swollen lymph nodes.”
Symptoms in humans: “All forms of tularemia in humans are accompanied by a sudden beginning of fever. Other signs and symptoms may include skin sores or wounds, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, chills, joint and muscle pain and nausea. Symptoms in humans generally occur three to five days after exposure but may occur as soon as the next day or up to 14 days
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author buyers watch out, co -authors dinner pawsible
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