You Hug Your Pet – Your Vet Deserves One Too

Whether they are our pets or livelihood, the animals in our care are an integral part of our lives.  Walking along side us each day are those professionals we look to as our first choice to maintain the health of those animals; our veterinarians.  To honor and celebrate the importance of these medical professionals, nearly 20 years ago World Veterinary Day was created.  This international event is not only meant to praise the work these veterinarians do, but also highlight the ongoing importance these men and women play in the long-term health of the animals around us.  Without their ongoing efforts both companion animals, livestock, and even us humans would live less healthy lives.

2019 World Veterinary Day focus: Vaccination

One major example of the importance veterinarians play in the world stage of animals and man involves their role in the development and use of life-saving vaccines.  Prior to their widespread use, life-threatening diseases endangered individual animals and whole populations while directly impacting the livelihood of rural livestock producers both at home and abroad.

While developing a viable vaccine is a complex and time-consuming process, it is up to veterinarians to provide the education needed to the general public in order to make the decision regarding the use of these lifesaving products.  It was also veterinarians who worked hours and even years, hand in hand, with researchers developing these same vaccines; their hard work a by-product of their desire to “first do no harm.”

Just like antibiotics, anesthetics, hormonal therapy, surgery and a host of other tools the veterinarian has at her disposal, the most critical for both animal and human health is the vaccine.  For over 200 years vaccines have been in use and they have led to significant improvements in public health, second only to clean drinking water.  Not only has this success led to improvements in the wellbeing of humans and animals, it has also helped deter the passing of diseases from animals to humans.

One of the first vaccines ever developed for humans originated from the observation of dairy farmers and their resistance to Smallpox.  When it was realized that those dairy farmers who had become infected with Cowpox, a cattle disease that is benign in people, showed resistance to the virulent and deadly human version, it only took a leap of faith to begin “inoculating” people with the dairy cattle pox.  200 years has since passed but similar trials for safety and efficacy of new vaccines continue, with veterinarians at the forefront of the research for both men, women and animals.

It is suggested that 75% of all new human pathogens originate from animal sources; this alone should prompt each one of us to follow through on the annual vaccination program for all of the animals in our care.  Not only do vaccinations prevent the spread of diseases across species, they also protect those same animals, especially livestock, ensuring healthy food sources, such as meat, milk and eggs for our families.

These vaccines also protect those communities whose livelihood depends on agricultural-based businesses against major infectious outbreaks and their devastating financial results.  It is estimated that up to 20% of animal protein is saved in emerging countries when vaccines are employed to prevent the spread of diseases.  Veterinarians are on the forefront of helping to eliminate these potentially crippling economic challenges while, at the same time, preventing the devastating spread of infectious diseases.

Whether the memory you have of a veterinarian is caring for a companion animal or your livestock, it has always been and will continue to be their diligence and compassion, matched only by their desire to promote optimal health for all animals (human and otherwise) which drives them to do their utmost each day.  These veterinarians have been and will continue to be our first choice for maintaining the health of the animals around us and for this and all they do for us, we thank them.