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

The Greater Chennai Corporation is thinking of procuring vaccines from private agencies for canine distemper 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 centres. 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. Additionally, not all surgeons can conduct post-op services as they perform at least 20 surgeries a day, potentially leading to gaps in post-operative care.” A veterinary public health official in the civic body’s Public Health Department, acknowledging that there is no vaccine for CD with the GCC currently, said, “All vaccines, medicines and injections are availed from the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Limited for over 10 years.