Kenyan pet owners are being urged to prioritize vaccination and preventive healthcare as part of their responsibilities in pet ownership, in line with the country's goal to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Rosebella Ochango, a veterinary professional and business developer at PetStore Kenya, emphasized that rabies poses a significant public health threat, mainly because vaccination rates for dogs are low and people exposed to potentially rabid animals do not always receive prompt treatment.

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"Rabies remains a serious concern because having an effective vaccine does not automatically mean that every dog is vaccinated or that every person exposed to a suspected rabid animal receives treatment in time. Our challenge lies in consistently reaching every community with prevention," Ochango said.

Once clinical symptoms of rabies appear, the disease is virtually fatal; however, it can be prevented through dog vaccination, responsible ownership, timely wound management, and appropriate post-exposure treatment. Ochango noted that dogs account for up to 99 percent of human rabies transmission, making vaccination a critical intervention.

"The question is not whether rabies is preventable. It is whether we are consistently delivering prevention to dogs, owners, and communities. Rabies requires a One Health approach; veterinary professionals, medical practitioners, government entities, communities, pet owners, and private-sector partners all play vital roles," she stated.

Ochango further remarked that responsible pet ownership should extend beyond providing food and shelter to include regular veterinary care, vaccinations, parasite control, nutrition, exercise, and preventing unsupervised roaming.

"For Kenya, the opportunity is to move from simply owning a pet to actively caring for it. A healthy pet not only benefits the family but also contributes to a healthier and safer community," she said.

She expressed concern that many pet owners seek veterinary care only after their pets become ill, and identified ongoing gaps in vaccination, deworming, flea and tick prevention, and routine health check-ups. Urban lifestyles, particularly in Nairobi, complicate these challenges as many dogs live in apartments, and busy owners may overlook preventive care due to work commitments.

"A pet owner may leave early for work and return home late, leading to postponing routine veterinary check-ups, vaccination appointments, or parasite control treatments," explained Ochango.

She recommended that pet owners establish relationships with veterinary professionals, keep vaccination and parasite-control schedules, and maintain accurate health records. Furthermore, she warned against misconceptions, such as the belief that only stray dogs can carry rabies, or that healthy-looking dogs cannot transmit the disease.

"One of the most dangerous misconceptions is that rabies is inevitable after a dog bite. This is not true. Prompt action can prevent the disease from developing. The key message for every family is simple: don’t guess, act," she urged.

In cases of dog bites, Ochango advised treating the incident as a medical emergency. "Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for approximately 15 minutes, and take the child to a health facility as soon as possible for professional assessment and post-exposure treatment," she added.

Ongoing community education, accessible vaccination, and collaboration among veterinary professionals, health workers, government officials, communities, and pet owners are essential for prevention. "Vaccinating a dog is not only an act of care for that animal; it is also an act of protection for the family and the wider community," Ochango concluded.