The Importance of Vaccinating Animals to Prevent the Spread of Diseases – Anti-Rabies Campaign in Veterinary Clinics

Vaccination of animals is essential to prevent the spread of certain diseases. Some of them are a danger to people who live with their pets. Rabies is a viral disease that can be fatal to animals, however, it can be prevented. With this in mind, veterinary clinics are carrying out an anti-rabies campaign this summer.

Currently, vaccinations are carried out in veterinary clinics and anti-rabies campaigns that were carried out on the street are already prohibited. During the summer the clinics have continued with the rabies vaccines following the 2022 line. «The campaign has gone well. We have had more vaccines than last year, “says José Miguel Gallo, manager of the Don Can veterinary clinic in Palencia.

Rabies disease has been in the spotlight of veterinarians for years. This virus that affects the central nervous system causes highly lethal encephalitis. Transmission to humans is caused in 99% of cases by the bite of domestic dogs according to the WHO. But the risk is also found in wild animals and other domestic animals such as cats or ferrets, which are increasingly being vaccinated in clinics. “Andalusia Cantabria Galicia Madrid Catalonia is forcing itself to also vaccinate cats and ferrets and install microchips” he comments.

In Castilla y León, the vaccine is only mandatory for dogs, however, the clinics claim the need to vaccinate cats as well. In the case of cats and ferrets, their vaccination and identification is necessary if they travel within the territory. In Spain last year only 5 cases were found, but the risk remains high. “Rabies is a deadly zoonosis. Right now we are free of rabies but we are surrounded by this disease in Morocco and jungle rabies in France », he explains.

In addition, dog trafficking poses a threat since the animals that arrive in Spain can carry this disease. “With the importation of dogs illegally from eastern countries we are exposed,” he says. For this reason, veterinary clinics agree that vaccination against rabies is “highly recommended.”

This summer the centers have noticed a slight increase in vaccinations for this disease. Vaccination for dogs is mandatory every year, but other pets such as cats or ferrets visit clinics more and more frequently. “People are much more aware when it comes to taking animals to the vet,” Gallo says proudly. However, vets have other concerns. “It is necessary to make prevention policies, compulsory and non-compulsory vaccinations and deworming,” says Gallo. Animals that live in large communities “tend to have more parasites,” he comments, and for this reason most specialists recommend deworming animals “at least every three months,” instead of every six months, as currently required by law in Castile and Leon.

In addition, the rise in temperatures is another risk for animals. “There are more and more temperate and hotter climates and there are beginning to be diseases that were not there before,” he warns. The prevention of these new diseases is crucial, since if they are not detected in time “animals can reach a state that is more difficult to treat,” she points out.

2023-09-04 18:28:00
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