Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
One of the joys that many people have is owning and caring for their pets. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that an amazing 68 percent of households in the United States own pets.
Of course, the most popular pets are dogs and cats, but other animals commonly kept include rabbits, ferrets, pigs, gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, rats, mice and parrots. Bringing up the rear are the turtles, lizards, snakes and fish.
There is no doubt that pets can be good for a person. They can give both physical and emotional support. How many people use walking their dogs as their main form of exercising? The person and the pet are both getting exercise, fresh air and social interaction.
Pets are especially good for people who live alone and for elderly people, who do not have enough social interaction. Pets can provide the comfort and purpose that these people need.
Most people get a warm fuzzy feeling when they see a dog. This has been taken to another level with specially trained therapy dogs that visit children and adults in hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities. These animals are also used to bring comfort after traumatic situations such as school shootings, homicides, car accidents or other emotionally taxing catastrophes.
A majority of people who have pets love and enjoy them. Pet ownership is a serious responsibility.
Of course, the animal must be cared for. They require attention, playtime, food and veterinary care for their medical needs and preventive health care.
One of the questions you may soon be asked by your healthcare provider is, “Do you have a pet?” If the answer is yes, the next question you may be asked is, “Is your pet up to date on their immunizations?”
As we are seeing an uptick in vaccination hesitancy in people, we are also starting to see vaccination hesitancy in people, who are pet owners. This may place the pet owner in jeopardy in addition to their beloved pet.
In a recent survey, 40 percent of pet owners stated that they do not trust the rabies vaccination to be safe and effective. The American Medical Veterinary Association states that 18-15 percent of pet owners fail to have their pets vaccinated against rabies.
For those who have forgotten, rabies is a horrible virus that can cause encephalitis in mammals. Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. It is spread through the saliva of animals such as squirrels, foxes, coyotes, and others, usually through bites. It is a horrible condition that results in the beloved pet being euthanized. If a person is bitten and infected by a rabid animal, they may have to undergo long, painful therapy that is also expensive. Worldwide, more 700,000 people die of rabies each year.
So, if you are a pet owner, make sure your beloved pet has been vaccinated against rabies and all other diseases your veterinarian deems necessary. It is irresponsible to do less. The love and companionship that your pet provides is certainly worth it. Then, when your health care provider asks if you are a pet owner, you can proudly say yes, and my beloved pet is fully immunized.
Dr. Veita Bland is a board-certified Greensboro physician and hypertension specialist. Dr. Bland’s radio show, “It’s a Matter of Your Health,” can be heard live on Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. on N.C. A&T State University’s WNAA, 90.1 FM. Listeners may call in and ask questions. The show is replayed on Sirius 142 at 5 p.m. on Wed. Email Dr. Bland at ideas@blandclinicpa.com.
