Distemper, parvo virus in dogs and cats can be fatal

‘Timely intervention and vaccination can save the lives of these animals, civic authorities should think of helping in vaccination’ experts

Vasudha Zora | NT

Bengaluru: The terror of Canine distemper and parvo virus remain a threat to the feline and canine lives in the city and across India. There is no noted cure for distemper, especially in the case of dogs but symptoms can be managed and the pet is restrained to lifelong medication. The diseases are spread through infected strays and have become common, spelling disaster for many pet parents during extraordinary times like Covid.

''The cases of feline leukemia virus have become very common in feral and now house cats. Being a retrovirus, it is spread through infected cats from the nasal secretions, urine, fecal matter, and saliva. Any normal cat can get infected, as cats roam around”, informed Veterinary expert Col. Dr. Nawaz Sharif.

''In the cases of dogs, due to the nervous form of canine distemper, dogs can have serious problems like brain inflammation and neurological failures, convulsions, damage to muscle coordination in the hind legs, partial or complete paralysis, and involuntary twitching of muscles are some of the effects of distemper. It is a communicable disease, and its spread through infected packs and mostly it’s airborne,” informed Dr. Nawaz Shariff. Veterinary experts also suggest that the issue of distemper and parvo virus runs deeper.

The rabies vaccine is provided for free by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the price of the vaccine is as low as Rs 50, whereas the vaccine for both distemper and parvo ranges between Rs 600-1000 and the authorities do not provide the same.

The BBMP authorities need to focus on more animal-centric schemes like the rabies vaccine drive, this way more research and development will flourish in the sector and more and more animals will be free of the two diseases, some experts opined.

Treatment for Canine distemper is almost unheard of but symptomatic treatment can be provided, as distemper causes nerve disorder, a mix of medicines and a healthy diet can help in regaining strength from time to time. Parvo has no after-effects in dogs if it is in its preliminary stage and hasn’t progressed to intestinal bleeding.

However, the distemper is uneasy to track as it can occur in various parts of the body such as the jaws, limbs, head, etc. The best cure for the disease is to take the vaccine combination of distemper and parvo to safeguard pets from life-threatening symptoms, informed Dr. Shariff.