THE event, which took place at Dogman Pet World, Abule Odu bus stop, Egbeda Lagos was organized by the Alimosho Kennel Club in collaboration with the Lagos State Government to vaccinate dogs against rabies infection and sensitize dog breeders on the importance of getting their dogs immunized against rabies.
Alimoshotoday spoke with a dog breeder, Mr Uche, (Biggie Dogman), who mentioned that he has been breeding dogs for about nine years. Mr Uche claimed that in all his years of being a breeder, he has never had rabies-infected dogs because he makes sure to conduct regular health checks on his dogs. He also advised dog breeders to take care of their dogs’ health the same way they take care of theirs.
“My advice is for them to vaccinate and follow up on the health of their dogs,” Mr Uche said.
Alimoshotoday also spoke with Mr Kizito Nwogu, who is the Team Lead, Dogman Pet World, an animal health technologist, and a pioneer member of the Alimosho Kennel Club, he is of the concern that breeders, generally, take levity when it comes to the health of the dogs because they do not understand the negative economical implication an unhealthy dog poses to them as breeders and to the society at large.
Mr Kizito said; “Breeders in Alimosho and Nigeria at large take low considerations to anti-rabies vaccination because, maybe, it is not killing their dogs yet or they feel the dogs don’t need it or it’s very expensive. Rabies in dogs has economic implications in humans because it kills humans too if a human is bitten by an infected dog.”
He also stated that there are several ways for a dog to contract the rabies virus which could include; exposure to infected wild animals, exposure to infected dogs, unvaccinated dogs, rodents, or an unhealthy environment. He also mentioned that symptoms that can be seen in an infected dog include; a sudden change in behaviour, cat-walking, changes in food preference, eating of stones, clothes, and shoes, incessant salivation, loss of voice, paralysis, blindness, and death.
Mr Kizito reiterated that there is no known cure for the rabies infection in either dogs or humans; therefore, the anti-rabies vaccination must be administered on all dogs once a year irrespective of the dog breed.
