Northern farmers feeling effects of veterinarian shortage
Northern veterinarians are stretched thin by a lack of resources in the region, which farmers in the region say has them waiting weeks to see veterinarians who specialize in large animals.
The owner of Rubber Boots Farm in Timmins, Marcel Forget, said he's felt the impact after only three years in operation.
"Either there isn't a specialist for that particular type of animal (in town) or you have to call from out of town and either bring the animal to them or wait for them to come to you," said Forget, who's spent weeks trying to get a diagnosis for one of his pigs.
He's hoping a veterinarian will be able to visit Timmins in a couple of weeks. Forget said he doesn't blame the vets themselves for the delays, but the overall shortage.
One vet in New Liskeard, Dr. Connie Dancho, said four specialized veterinarians travel up to two hours in any direction to treat farm animals. There are instances, she said, where they'll have to turn away farmers due to poor weather or a lack of available professionals.
Moreover, once her veterinarians lug their mobile healthcare equipment to northern farmers, especially in the winter, there's often a lack of warm facilities in which to perform births or surgeries.
"(There aren't) any handling facilities, so that they could actually catch these animals and help us restrain these animals, so that we can give them the proper attention," said Dancho.
"During emergency service, when we don't have another veterinarian to call upon, we ask them to consider bringing (animals) down here. The problem here is that we don't have an actual place that has good facilities that we could bring cattle or horses down to."
New funding program offers some relief
New joint funding from the federal and provincial governments is hoping to help with that, by spending up to $4 million on a 'Livestock Veterinary Innovation Initiative.'
Announced on Wednesday, the funding would be available to veterinary businesses to use on projects like virtual care and telemedicine, portable livestock handling equipment and additional training for veterinarians.
Dancho said that would certainly be useful for existing veterinarians in the region, but said what people especially need is more professionals around the north to treat farm animals.
Until more veterinarians can be attracted north, Forget said he and his fellow farmers try to support each other as much as possible.
"You need to either know how to deal with (your animals) or call your neighbour who's been doing this for 60 years and maybe they can help you or you have to wait," Forget said.'
"So, it's call your friends first and then call the vet."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.