WORLD VETERINARY DAY BY JESSIE TAYLOR
Preventing outbreaks of diseases amongst livestock and domestic animals
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fter two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, most South Africans have become aware of the critical role vaccination plays in preventing disease and reducing illness. But you may not have realised that your pets also need to be vaccinated to protect them from several dangerous illnesses they are at risk of contracting. Your local veterinarian is not just there to monitor your pet's reproductive health or treat them in case of an injury; they are also working to prevent outbreaks of diseases among pets through vaccination.
As World Veterinary Day is celebrated on the last Saturday of April, this month is an ideal time to visit your nearest veterinarian and ensure your pet's immunisation is up to date. PREVENTING DISEASE THROUGH VACCINATION World Veterinary Day was created in 2000 by the World Veterinary Association to highlight and promote the lifesaving work performed by veterinarians. One of the ways they do this is by ensuring your pet's vaccinations are up to date.
64 | Public Sector Leaders | April 2022
Much like in humans, pet vaccines are designed to trigger a protective immune response by stimulating the immune system's production of antibodies. This helps prepare your pet's immune system to fight future infections and diseases. These vaccines can prevent infection or lessen the severity of contagious diseases such as canine distemper, parvovirus infection and respiratory tract infections. According to the South African Veterinary Association, there are two groups of vaccinations: core and non-core.
