Vaccination Campaign 2018 With Sneha’s Care Posted June 25, 2018 by Suchan Budha

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During the recent anti-rabies and distemper vaccination campaign, our project partner, Sneha’s Care, vaccinated 1,050 dogs in Godavari. More precisely, all the dogs living in Wards 3, 10, 11, and 12 at Thecho, Chapagaun, Bajrabarahi, Godavari Bus Park, Taukhel, Thaiba and Bandegaun were, without exception, vaccinated.

During the vaccination project, Sneha’s Care’s team also distributed information pamphlets to the local residents that described rabies, in detail, and ways to prevent it. We believe that another important step is to make people aware of the diseases among dogs and how we can help prevent them.The local people were very enthusiastic, and helped us in locating the dogs for vaccination.

We rejoice that now both the canine and human residents of the Godavari area are assured that everyone in their community is safe from terrible, life-threatening diseases, such as rabies and distemper. It is very important to vaccinate dogs so that they are free from illnesses and do not spread deadly diseases.

As always, Shenpen deeply appreciates our project partner, CHANCE for Nepal (UK), for their ongoing, gracious and bountiful support. Thank you!!

Why is Vaccination Against Distemper Important?

In Nepal it isn’t compulsory to vaccinate cats and dogs. Therefore, diseases such as rabies and canine distemper are widespread. Distemper is contagious, and a painful and serious disease without any known cure. Distemper  affects dogs as well as some other species of wildlife, such as raccoons, wolves, foxes, and skunks.

Distemper affects the dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems, as well as the conjunctival membranes of the eye (Sneha’s Care, 2018).

Signs and Symptoms of Distemper

Sneha’s Care (Ibid.) lists the first signs of canine distemper as: fever, lethargy, sudden vomiting and diarrhea. The dog may sneeze, cough and have thick mucus coming from the eyes and nose.

As distemper attacks the brain and the spinal cord, the dog may have fits, seizures, paralysis, and attacks of hysteria.

The Dangers of Distemper

Distemper is highly contagious and can be spread “through the air and by direct or indirect (utensils, bedding) contact with the infected animal” (Jha).

All dogs won’t necessarily get distemper, but they need to be very well-taken care of, which is difficult to the point of being impossible with street dogs. As there is no cure to distemper, vaccination is the only way to prevent dogs from suffering and dying from this painful disease.

References

Jha, Awadhesh. Canine Distemper in Dogs.

Sneha’s Care. (2018). Canine Distemper Virus.