GCC considers procuring Canine Distemper vaccine from private agencies for stray dogs

Chennai's Greater Chennai Corporation considers procuring vaccines from private agencies to control the spread of canine distemper among stray dogs.

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is thinking of procuring vaccines from private agencies for canine distemper (CD) to curb its spread among stray dogs.

In a message circulated on a messaging app recently, animal activists alleged that some captured dogs succumbed to CD — a contagious viral infection — in animal birth control (ABC) centres .

There are three ABC centres – Avvai Shanmugam Salai, Kannammapet, and Basin Bridge Road – with 17 veterinary doctors, as per the GCC.

T. Fouzia Begum (30), an advocate in the Madras High Court and a volunteer for stray dogs with the civic body, said no survey had been done to identify dogs with the infection so far by. “If done, at least 15 dogs would be diagnosed with CD in zone 4 alone. The other issue lies with the public, as nobody wants to help an affected dog, fearing they might be infected. They want the dog to be either killed or taken away by catchers,” she alleged.

S. Sundaram, 32, a catcher of zone 3 (Madhavaram), said many workers were unaware of the symptoms of CD and hence, catch all the dogs in an area and take them together to the respective shelters.

A veterinary doctor of an ABC centre in the central region of the GCC said CD can be identified through several symptoms, including muscle twitches on the head, ‘chewing gum fits’ or convulsions with jaw-chewing movements, nasal and ocular discharge, impetigo on the ventral abdomen, a wobbly stance, constant itching, and thickening and hardening of the footpads of the paws, which appear almost rubber-like. Dogs with this disease also lose sensation in their footpads.

“The disease is contagious and fatal if left untreated. But, with advanced medicines available with the GCC, which can be administered both orally and through IV methods, the dog’s condition can be improved. Further, the spread of the disease decreases,” he said.