IFAH - Healthy Animals, Healthy World

As human and animal populations continue to grow, it becomes ever more critical for the animal health industry not only to be on the cutting edge of medical research, but to be able to produce and distribute much needed medicines for animals worldwide.

In Australia, Jason and his family own a horse called “Lightning”, and he takes the responsibility of caring for the horse very seriously. Occasionally, while giving him a good brush down following a ride, he will find a small unwelcome traveller that has also managed to hitch a ride on his horse – a tick!

Karin, a seven year old girl from Germany, loves eating scrambled eggs on Sunday mornings with her grandmother. Every weekend they buy fresh eggs from a local farmer, Oliver. Oliver has been selling eggs from his flock of chickens for over twenty years and is acutely conscious of ensuring that his products are safe and healthy. One of his main concerns is Salmonellosis…

Aluna is 12 years old, and has been helping out on her family farm in Kenya for as long as she can remember. Her father works with a veterinarian to make regular check-ups on the cattle, but it is important that the animals are also vaccinated against diseases. One of history’s most notorious examples of a devastating animal disease is Rinderpest…

Think about some famous veterinarians. Which names come to mind? Veterinarians, such as Hugh Lofting’s Doctor Dolittle and James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, may be well known in popular culture; however, veterinary professionals are rarely recognized for the vital, valuable, and varied work they perform, and the important role they play in all our lives.

Sebastião is seven. He lives in São Paulo, Brazil with his parents and two sisters. Sebastião’s household has another important member of the family: the family’s six year old dog, Tito. As Tito is an adventurous dog who loves the outdoors, Sebastião and his family make sure he is protected against the health risks from his active life, and ultimately this protects the family he lives with.

People are in contact with animals every day, even in the world’s most urbanised areas. Not only do animals share the spaces we live in, we depend on animals to provide us with a vast range of services and comforts which make our lives what they are.