Pets get free vaccination and care in UP vaccination drive

Residents of Bronkhorstspruit and surrounding areas recently lined up to receive free care and advice for their cats, dogs and even a parrot at the University of Pretoria’s vaccination drive.

UP spokesperson Primarashni Gower said the initiative was organised by animal feed company Alzu Feeds.

It was supported by a clinician, veterinary nursing staff, and veterinary and veterinary nursing students from the University of Pretoria (UP)’s Faculty of Veterinary Science.

Gower said a mobile clinic used for the day treated 123 dogs, 21 cats and a parrot after the Gauteng Provincial Veterinary Services provided the institute with vaccines.

“A local animal sanctuary also took the opportunity to bring 25 dogs in their care to the clinic for a quick check-up and the necessary vaccines.

“Most of the pets treated received vaccination against rabies and an all-important five-in-one jab against other potentially fatal animal diseases such as canine distemper, canine adenovirus 2, canine para-influenza, and canine parvovirus.”

She said around 400kg of dog food was given out free of charge, thanks to generous pet food manufacturers.

Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) veterinarian Dr Makhosonkhe Dlamini said he was pleased with the condition of the animals he saw.

“Many were dewormed, while an abscess was treated on one dog and two others were treated for dehydration and constipation.”

Dr Dlamini also provided advice to pet owners from what to feed their animals to how to treat some of their pets’ chronic skin conditions.

He said many of these cases are linked to the persistent presence of ticks and fleas in their surroundings.

“I am glad the drive also provided valuable hands-on training to the UP students who volunteered. I was very proud of the way they handled the animals brought in.”

Sister Melanie McLean, a veterinary nurse in OVAH’s diagnostic imaging section, said “the event was a great way to provide our younger students with practical experience”.

“I loved watching how our students chatted with pet owners and helped where they could.”

The initiative was started by Sonya de Bruyn, depot manager of Alzu Feeds in Bronkhorstspruit.

She is a former veterinary technologist and an alumnus of the University of Pretoria who in 2018 graduated with a master’s degree in animal production.

“Getting regular rabies shots for their animals counts among the many things that people neglected during the Covid-19 pandemic,” De Bruyn said.

“It can be an expense, but free ones are available through the state veterinarian. The logistics of getting it can, however, often be daunting to smallholder farmers and pet owners alike.”

She said her initial plan with the pop-up campaign was only to provide pet owners and smallholder farmers easier access to the free rabies shots available through the state vet.

“Things started to snowball – but all in a good way, to the benefit of Bronkhorstspruit’s people and animals – after I sent an email to some of my contacts in the UP Faculty of Veterinary Science, to ask for volunteers who could help.”

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Dr Paul van Dam, Director of the OVAH and another champion of the initiative said with rabies being such a frightening disease, the Faculty of Veterinary Science fully supports initiatives aimed at preventing its spread.

“Dogs are the source of 99% of human rabies infections – which are all fatal. Rabies can, however, be 100% prevented by vaccinating cats and dogs. It is also our duty to inform and educate communities about the possible risks if pets are not vaccinated against the disease.”

Van Dam said the prevention of rabies started with animal owners, who should ensure that all their dogs and cats were vaccinated annually.

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