SAMBALPUR: Canines in Sambalpur are affected by canine parvovirus (CPV) infection, a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The Veterinary District Headquarters Hospital is receiving about six dogs on an average every day since the last fortnight and the doctors at the understaffed hospital are worried over shortage of vaccines.
To add to the woes, many people are coming with stray dogs which they have adopted and are not in a position to afford the cost of treatment. This threatens to spread the infection even as the hospital authorities expressed helplessness at providing medicine from the hospital.
The symptoms associated with the intestinal form of CPV infection include bloody diarrhoea, lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting and severe weight loss. It affects the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. An affected animal will quickly become dehydrated and weak due to lack of protein and fluid absorption.
This has made the owners worried about the health of the dogs. The team of two doctors and paramedical are working overtime to tackle the menace.
The owners have to bear the cost of treatment on their own, which is proving to be a costly affair to tame the infection. A single dose of medicine costs about Rs 500 and the treatment is required for at least five days. It may be noted that the owners have to deposit Rs 10 as user’s fee and hence, are entitled for free medicines and vaccines.
Specialist Veterinarian at the headquarters hospital admitted that there is shortage of medicine and vaccines, including anti-rabies for canines and medicines for livestock, while deworming medicines are only made available by the State Government. They have written to Chief District Veterinarian Officer (CDVO) Dr Sabyasachi Basu over the issue.
There are only two veterinarians. Although the hospital has an ultrasonography and an autoanalyser machine, it is yet to be installed. The hospital does not have water connection and all that remains in the Operation Theatre is a room with no infrastructure.