Raji urges regular anti-rabies vaccination
By Mustafa Abubakar
The immediate past Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Prof. Lukman Oladimeji Raji , has called on dog owners to ensure regular anti-rabies vaccination of their pets, stressing the importance of prevention in protecting both animals and humans from the deadly zoonotic disease.
Prof. Raji, who specialises in Theriogenology and Production, made the call last Tuesday, September 29, 2026 in a chat with UNILORIN Bulletin.
He said, “Prevention is better than cure”, stressing that it is better to take preventive measures than wait until a disease becomes life-threatening.
He recalled an incident involving a client, who was a nurse, during his years of private veterinary practice, stating that after administering the routine DHLPP vaccination on the client’s dog, he advised her to also vaccinate the animal against rabies.
“The client, however, resisted the advice, accusing me of trying to collect more money from her after she had already paid for the dog’s vaccination,” he stressed.
Prof. Raji said he explained to her that DHLPP vaccination was different from anti-rabies vaccination and that rabies vaccination was particularly important because it protects the dog, its owner, family members and other people who might come in contact with the animal.
According to him, the client remained adamant and eventually declined the anti-rabies vaccination, despite his repeated advice.
He said he consequently told her that he had discharged his professional responsibility by advising and warning her appropriately.
Prof. Raji explained that about two weeks later, the woman called him urgently and requested that he come and administer the anti-rabies vaccine on her dog.
He said when he asked about the sudden change of mind, the client explained that a rabies case had been presented at the hospital where she worked.
“She told me that it was a horrible experience and that she could not bear the pain and torture she witnessed in the patient, including the barking,” he recalled.
He added that the woman subsequently acknowledged the importance of regular vaccination and promised to take the advice seriously.
He explained that rabies is a dangerous zoonotic disease that can affect humans and animals, stressing that prevention through responsible animal ownership and vaccination remains crucial.
The don also called for increased public awareness about rabies, particularly among animal owners, noting that people should not wait until they encounter a suspected case before appreciating the importance of vaccination.
He appealed to the public to take rabies prevention seriously, stressing that the importance of regular vaccination “cannot be overemphasised.”
