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
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.