VETERINARIANS CALL FOR ATTENTION TO ANIMAL PETS AS THE GLOD MARK WORLD VETERINARY
Today (29 April, 2017) is World Veterinary Day. The day is set aside to promote the different facets of work performed by Veterinarians all over the world. Also World Veterinary Day most importantly raises awareness on the contributions of Veterinarians to improve animal health and welfare as was public health.
Highlighting the relevance of the event, the Enugu State Chairman, Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association, Doctor Kelvin Ugwomarima explained that there is need for Nigerian’s who love to keep pets to always consult veterinarians for the optimal well being of the animals they rear.
“Our responsibility as Vegetarians doesn’t just end in treating animals, it involves public health aspect of veterinary practice in the sense that most of the diseases that affect animals equally affect human beings,” he said.
He added that “if proper things are done by our practice we can be able to check the transfer of these diseases from animals to humans.”
Speaking on the theme of this year’s event: “Anti-Bacterial Resistance from Awareness to Action,” Doctor Ugwuomarima said the theme was relevant as it would prevent the health issues arising from indiscriminate administration of anti-bacterial drugs on animals.
“By the time you treat an animal with antibiotics and you don’t observe the withdrawal period, especially food animals, if somebody happens to consume that food animal, he is going to consume part of the antibiotics used on the animal and if he takes that antibiotics, the concentration of the antibiotics will not be enough to effect treatment.”
Some respondents gave divergent views about pets.
“if you build into them for security, they will look for security, if you build them as pets, they will work as pets. If they notice that if you have become aggressive to them, they can turn against you.”
“Pets are really good but I don’t really fancy them”
“Like dogs, cats, they are good but sometimes they can give headaches”
Doctor Kevin Ugwuomarima said that activity to mark the day is National Public Sensitization Programme on animals, which will be held in Asaba, Delta State.
EVELYN AWUNOR