Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 18: At a time when coronavirus infection has been threatening the lives of human beings, the dogs are faced with the fatal and highly contagious canine distemper, a viral disease that spreads fast. The spread of this disease has acquired speed with the onset of winter and it has been claiming the lives of mainly street dogs.

There is no exclusive vaccine to get protection from this disease alone. A single vaccine is given as a protection against canine distemper, hepatitis, lacto psoriasis, Parvovirus, and parainfluenza virus. Vaccines of different companies costing from Rs 650 to 800 are available. The government does not provide free vaccines for the treatment of animals. The dog lovers say that the lives of many dogs can be saved if the government arranges to provide the vaccine at a cheaper price.

Representational image

As this disease spreads mainly through street dogs, there is no exact information about the number of dogs affected by it. As per the documents of Animal Care Trust with its main office at Shaktinagar here, 60 dogs in the city have been infected. Last year, 200 such cases were reported. This time, the virus has been found even before the winter started. The first cases emerged in October and as the disease spreads up to March, there is a need to be vigilant.

This virus spreads through air. By vaccinating the dogs, they can be protected. But the street dogs are vulnerable to the disease as they are deprived of the vaccine and have low disease resistance. The disease can also spread to domestic animals from street dogs. The virus initially affects the nervous system and lungs. The dogs get fever and suffer from body pain all over. They cannot even stand and street dogs cannot go looking for food. Mucus flows from their noses and when the virus reaches the nervous system the limbs get paralysed and unless properly treated, the dogs die in the matter of a week.