05 May 2022

Some pet owners do not take seriously the need to vaccinate their canines against diseases such as rabies, despite the devastating effects of the virus even on human beings.

In an interview with BOPA, Senior Veterinary Officer Dr Wapapha Modala warned against such, noting that vaccination against rabies and other related diseases did not only protect dogs and cats but people as well.

He said rabies, a viral infection, that affected the mammals’ central nervous system, could be fatal to human beings should they get infected through wounds when in contact with infected saliva of their furry pals.

“When an infected animal licks our hands, bite or scratch us that is how we get the virus. The virus does not have a cure, hence the need to vaccinate our pets,” he said.

He said symptoms in human beings started with non-specific clinical signs, such as fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, adding that the specific clinical signs would then follow which included neurological signs such as hallucination, aggression, anxiety, partial paralysis of muscles and hyperexcitable.

“Sometimes the heart could be affected and eventually lead to cardiac arrest. The brain is also affected by this virus,” he said.

Dr Modala said the most important strategy of protecting the nation against rabies was to follow veterinary officers’ advice of vaccinating cats and dogs as they were mostly transmitters of the virus.

In categorising symptoms of rabies, he said in some instances, animals with furious symptoms displayed abnormal behaviour which ranged from aggressive behaviour, excessive drooling, hyperexcitable or developing different phobias such as hydrophobia.

Dr Modala said a dog with paralytic or dumb symptoms displayed less activity, severe depression and could be paralysed.

He further indicated that infected animals, showing either form of symptoms usually died after displaying signs and if not they would be killed by relevant authorities after confirming that they were indeed infected.

He said rabies had an incubation period, which meant it might take some time for the symptoms to show, noting that it was very important to seek medical assistance after being in contact with an infected animal.

Dr Modala said it was also important to make sure that cats and dogs stayed in the yards and did not get in contact with others, where they might get infected.

At home, he said if bitten or scratched by an infected animal,  one needed to wash with clean running water and disinfectant, adding, that after that the person would have to visit medical facility for post-exposure immunisation.

He said public education and awareness, was also a very important strategy that could be employed to fight rabies.

“If people are educated about rabies, they will be well equipped to prevent the virus and manage it if there are infections,” he said.

Dr Modala said if people failed to vaccinate their dogs and cats during the set period, they could visit veterinary offices to be assisted.

“If an unvaccinated dog hurts someone, the owner would be held liable for that, lawfully,” he said.

For his part, Southern District Council Chief Bylaw Enforcement Technician, Mr Kabelo Malanga explained that people who did not vaccinate their animals and their dogs could be held accountable through the Control of Livestock and other animal bylaws of 2014.

He said dogs should be inside premises at all times and if it bites someone outside the yard, the owner could beliable to a fine ranging between  P500 and P1 000 or imprisonment of a term, not more than 12 months or both. ENDS