It’s rabies shots time | Quinte News

It's rabies shot time

There is an opportunity for pet owners in Northumberland County to get their pets vaccinated against rabies, at a reduced cost.

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridget Health Unit is teaming up with participating veterinarians in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County to provide Reduced-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics on April 15.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of warm-blooded mammals, including humans.

The most common transmitters of the disease are bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons; however pets and other domestic animals can also spread rabies. In Ontario, all cats, dogs and ferrets must be vaccinated for rabies at three months old and must remain up to date for the duration of the pet’s life.

Manager of Health Protection for the HKPR health unit, Richard Ocharovich tells Quinte News,

“Any pet owner that owns a dog, cat, or ferret over the age of three months must ensure that the animal is up to date on its rabies vaccination.”

Ocharovich continued, “That’s the only vaccination for pets that’s legally mandated because of the significant risk of contracting the disease, if it comes in contact with a rabid animal and then becomes in contact, eventually exposing other people.” He added, “I really want to thank our veterinary partners, veterinarians, stepping up and being able to assist the community and specifically the part of the community that has a problem of being able to afford their rabies vaccinations. We still recommend that pet owners see their regular veterinarians for their checkups and all other vaccinations that may be pertinent to them. And treatment for ticks and fleas, all of those other important things but specifically for the rabies shots.”

“For pet owners who can’t afford or are having some financial difficulties this is a great opportunity to get their pets vaccinated through these reduced rabies costs for rabies clinics.”

“Throughout 2022, the HKPR District Health Unit investigated 567 animal bite or scratch exposures in the County of Haliburton, City of Kawartha Lakes and Northumberland County,” says Richard Ovcharovich, Manager of Environmental Health with the HKPR District Health Unit. “These investigations included 384 dogs, 105 cats and 78 other animals. At the time of the incidents, only 34% of dogs and 16% of cats were vaccinated for rabies.”

If an animal is infected, rabies can also be transmitted to humans when there is contact with the saliva through a bite, lick of an open wound or scratch. Last year, 37 people in the HKPR District Health Unit area were treated with the rabies immune globulin and vaccine series, a life-saving treatment that can prevent rabies infection if given soon after an exposure. Additionally, 20 animals were submitted for testing with one bat testing positive for rabies.

“If you are a pet owner who faces financial challenges, then the Reduced-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics are for you,” says Ovcharovich. “Rabies is fatal, so getting pets vaccinated is an important part of caring for animals and being a responsible pet owner. By vaccinating your four-legged friend, you are also protecting the health of your family and loved ones.”

Rabies vaccination clinic:

  • Ganaraska Animal Clinic, 146 Rose Glen Road South, Port Hope, Saturday, April 15, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm

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