Pet owners be warned, fake vets operating on the North Coast

A fake vet posing as a qualified professional has been operating in the North Coast region offering cheap services and fake vaccinations to unsuspecting pet owners.

A local animal clinic told the Courier that a handful of pets have had to be euthanised after the con artist provided the animals with improper diagnosis and treatment.

Pet owners too busy to take their animals to a veterinary clinic may think they have found the perfect solution in a veterinarian who makes house calls.

According to a local veterinarian who wished to remain anonymous, over the last few months, incidents of con artists posing as professionals have been on the increase, often to the detriment of pets being treated.

“They are generally someone recommended by a friend of a friend. They offer routine care treatment (vaccinations, deworming and tick and flea control) for as little as R150. They often do not look at pets’ vaccination cards and the biggest attraction of all, they provide services in the comfort of your home,” he said.

The vet recently dealt with a case that involved a local pet owner who took her puppy to a company trading as RK Grooming/Pest Control for a canine parvovirus vaccination. The vaccination and house call cost her R250.

The fake vet claimed to vaccinate the dog and give it antibiotics. The pet owner later took her pup to the local clinic when she began noticing that her dog was not well. The dog ended up being treated in high care – fighting for her life.

Virbac RSA, a veterinary pharmaceutical firm and one of the few GMP (Good Manufacture Practice) approved veterinary facilities in South Africa, said that an investigation was currently underway and Virbac RSA was taking steps against the company for the unlawful use of the Virbac brand.

“Virbac has no affiliation with RK Grooming and as far as Virbac is aware, have not supplied RK Grooming with any vaccine. The product appearing on the vaccination card, presented to Virbac, is a large animal antibiotic, and the lot number used as a reference, does not relate to any of the Virbac companion animal vaccines.

“Virbac companion animal vaccines are manufactured according to the highest quality standards and can only be administered by SAVC registered veterinarians,” said Virbac RSA general manager Jesse Chellan.

Chellan is urging pet owners who have had their pets vaccinated, or have had medication administered by the above company to contact their local veterinarian.

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