World Veterinary Day, which takes place on the last Saturday in April each year, provides a chance to celebrate the skill and dedication of veterinary professionals globally. But it is also an opportunity to reflect on the vast gaps and inequalities that still exist in accessing veterinary care around the globe.
For millions of animals worldwide, basic care remains out of reach.
Many animals live hours from the nearest vet. Animals in low- and middle-income countries are far more likely to live hours away from the nearest provider. Where distance isn’t the barrier, cost or limited infrastructure can be. This results in animals having no option but to struggle on with treatable injuries or preventable diseases, with little to no hope of ever receiving care.
And these voids in veterinary care put people at risk too. The World Health Organization estimates that globally about one billion cases of illness and millions of deaths occur every year from zoonoses (spreading from animals to people). Horrific diseases like rabies still cause tens of thousands of human deaths annually, despite being preventable.
Every day, our teams see the devasting impact that lack of access to veterinary care causes for animals and the communities who depend on them. In many places around the world, animals will go months or even years without receiving proper veterinary treatment. And for some, help simply never comes.
But there is hope.
With your support, and by working alongside fantastic partners around the world, we’re working to bridge these gaps in care: deploying teams to provide treatment to animals, training veterinary professionals to increase capacity in underserved communities, and sending vital medications and supplies to where they are most needed.
For a sweet stray dog named Bark in Thailand, help arrived just in time.
Keeping Bark breathing
An incredibly brave dog called Bark was discovered in Thailand suffering with a large, ruptured mass on his face. Upon receiving the report, our rescue team based at WVS Thailand were immediately deployed. It was clear that Bark required urgent help.
When Bark arrived at our clinic in Chiang Mai, our vets cleaned his wound and performed X-rays and cytology sampling from the ruptured mass. His blood tests revealed that he was also infected with blood parasites and heartworms. The cytology results confirmed that the mass was a TVT (Transmissible Venereal Tumour). Thankfully, this is a type of tumour that can be effectively treated with chemotherapy, without the need for surgery.
Usually, we would wait until a patient is in optimal condition before starting chemotherapy - however, Bark’s case was urgent. The tumour had already begun obstructing part of his airway, and delaying treatment could have caused permanent damage. Therefore, our team made the decision to treat both the tumour and the blood parasite infection simultaneously.
Throughout the chemotherapy process, Bark has been an incredibly brave, loving, and cooperative patient. After five weeks of treatment and care, he has shown remarkable progress. The mass has significantly reduced in size, his breathing has improved, and he is stronger and much more active. We’ve also made sure that Bark is up to date with his vaccinations, to protect him and his community from deadly diseases such as rabies.
Bark now has a happier and healthier future ahead - free from the tumour that once compromised his breathing, and safe from infections and structural damage that could have been life-threatening.
Bark is not alone with his story. Everyday animals’ lives are being transformed through the power of veterinary care.
Take action for animals this World Veterinary Day
Will you ensure animals like Bark can receive life-saving help from compassionate and experienced vets? Make a regular donation today. Every act, big or small, makes a difference for an animal with no one else to turn to.