GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route SPCA George branch has announced there has been an "enormous distemper outbreak, which started in February". SPCA senior inspector Salome Bruyns said: "Although the numbers came down in the last month we still deal with distemper cases almost on a daily basis.
Bruyns stressed: "The importance of vaccinations to control this disease cannot be over emphasised.
"Distemper can be a catastrophic disease even for an adult dog, thus it is imperative to keep up these annual vaccinations.
"This outbreak of distemper started in Thembaletu and Eden Park and spread other areas. Currently most cases reported in George are from Parkdene.
"Dogs that are not vaccinated that come into any kind of contact with an infected animal carry a particularly high risk of contracting this deadly disease," Bruyns said.
She noted that the virus was spread through the air and by direct or indirect contact with an infected animal. The disease attacked the respiratory, urogenital and nervous systems. The newest strain of the distemper virus caused aggressive symptoms, mainly neurological, that closely resembled rabies symptoms, Bruyns said.
Pet owners should look out for these symptoms:
- Fever
- Listlessness / tiredness
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Discharge from the eyes and nose
- Coughing
- Muscle tremors in the body and on the head - neurological stage.
- Sudden aggressive behaviour / overfriendly - change in personality
- Fear of water
- Fever
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Seizures
- Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles may follow, resulting in the well-known symptom of foaming at the mouth.
- Disorientation, incoordination and staggering may occur, caused by paralysis of the hind legs.
Should your dog have any of these symptoms, take it to your veterinarian immediately. Should you not be able to afford a veterinarian, and be able to prove it, you can contact the Garden Route SPCA Mossel Bay or George branch for assistance.
Mossel Bay branch: 044 693 0824 or 082 252 0351, A/H Emergencies: 072 287 1761
George branch: 044 878 1990, A/H emergencies: 082 378 7384
Report cases to your local SPCA or Animal Welfare should your dog be diagnosed with this disease.
The Garden Route SPCA notes: "We are aware of the outbreak in Knysna. Contact Annaleen Kitley, the manager at Knysna Animal Welfare, for more information (044 384 1603).
The Garden Route SPCA comprises Mossel Bay and George branches, not Knysna.
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