The battle against canine distemper

The Hindu

24-05-2025

Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary (BMAD) runs an isolation ward, alfresco — right outside its premises in Besant Nagar. A blue colour-coated corrugated roofing sheet is fastened on to a metal structure that sits on the compound wall snugly with the support of what approximates to sturdy C clamps. IV fluid packets dangle from hooks that hang from a supporting metal rod in the makeshift roofing. Fluids are being administered to Scar and Rama (canine residents of MRC Nagar and Avadi respectively) that are curled up on a table, their human-relatives standing by their side and watching them attentively.
At first sight, the uninitiated would equate the open-air ward with stepmotherly treatment to these canines. A closer look brings a board into view; and with that, a message which includes imperatives barked out in bold letters. The message having been read, a clearer picture emerges. Here is the text: 'Canine Distemper (CD) is a contagious disease. It spreads among unvaccinated dogs through contact among unvaccinated dogs through contact and air. DO NOT touch other dogs. DO NOT let your dog loiter around this premises.'
Scar and Rama are being treated for canine distemper, and given the contagious nature of the disease, the other dogs visiting BMAD for a consultation need to be kept at a safe distance from them — hence, the alfresco, removed ward.
Canine distemper treatment costs on the higher side due to the prohibitive price of the injections that ought to be administered to infected and at-risk dogs. These dogs are given immunoglobulins through Canglob D injections.
Canglob has a post-exposure dose. It also has a prophylactic dose for dogs feared to have been exposed to this viral disease, says Dr. Josika Navukkarasu, chief veterinarian at BMAD.
'A typical case would be a household with two dogs, one showing signs of canine distemper and the other not showing the signs. The one without signs of CD can be started on the prophylactic dose (in other words, pre-exposure dose),' Dr. Josika explains.
'The thing with canine distemper is that even after you give immunoglobin, there is a high chance that the dog will not make it,' she notes, elaborating that it is a pantropic virus as it affects every system in the body. 'My advice is that going for vaccine is the best way to deal with CD. One vaccine will not do: in puppyhood, they would need close to three doses of distemper vaccine.'
Dr. Josika reveals that vaccination and treatment for distemper provided at BMAD are chargeable, but offered at a nominal cost. She adds that the economically disadvantaged can pay whatever they can, 'but the vaccine cost itself is so high that unless we have people or companies sponsoring vaccines it is difficult to do everything for free.'
CD works on the basis of outbreaks: it is highly infectious and contagious, she says and illustrates it: 'In one road, if there are 20 dogs, and one of them contracts CD, definitely another five or six will also contract the disease.'
How can the community support the treatment of dogs with CD?
'If donors donate towards Canglob, we can give Canglob at a further subsidised rate, even free for people who cannot afford it,' says Dr. Josika. 'If they want to donate specifically towards Canglob, they can make a general donation, and mention through our Instagram page or WhatsApp number that they have donated so much and want it to go towards Canglob.'
BMAD's Instagram handle is @besantmemorialanimaldispensary and its email ID is [e-mail]