2023-07-28 17:36:00
Since Thursday July 27, 2023, the Perpignan SPA refuges have closed their doors for an indefinite period. Neither visitation nor adoption are on the agenda. If they do not communicate on the reasons for this decision, it comes in a context of reappearance of a few cases of dogs with distemper.
Since this Thursday, the center of the SPA (society for the protection of animals) on the avenue de Prades as well as that of the North Polygon have exceptionally closed their doors to the public. Without detailing what led them to take such a drastic decision, officials soberly mention “precautionary measures”.
Concern has been growing for several months among all professionals in contact with dogs because a few cases, although isolated, have reappeared, of distemper. In Perpignan, the Catalan veterinary clinic has seen several cases recently, “knowing that before that, we had none“. In the Têt valley, a veterinarian was also confronted with an animal suffering from the same disease, a month ago. The young puppy of 6 to 7 months, in a small town in the vicinity, unfortunately died shortly following. his care.”It had been ten years since I had seen one.“, notes the professional.
The reappearance of this disease is surprising for these doctors. Reports, rare but new, which lead some shelters to play it safe. Thus, near Perpignan, restrictions have also been put in place in a kennel. “We no longer do tours. If people want to adopt, we take a dog out, but we no longer let anyone into the shelter..”, confides its management. The objective being to avoid any risk of contamination, because distemper is particularly contagious, it is transmitted by oro-nasal contact.
Mortal in 90% of cases, the vaccine remains the only effective protection
However, the Catalan veterinary clinic wants to be reassuring: “There is currently no epidemic“, we insist in the establishment. Not all veterinarians have had to treat cases of distemper, far from it. These are only a few isolated cases, and fortunately. “It’s an appearance a few months ago, before that there was none. Normally, all dogs are vaccinated.“Health professionals insist that the vaccine is of a “absolute usefulness“, so far ” there is no miracle treatment, it is really necessary to vaccinate from birth or from the acquisition of an animal.”, they repeat. Antibiotics allow “stabilize the dog’s health. However, he is not cured. The only treatment is the vaccine!” .
Many symptoms can alert, such as fever, lack of appetite, runny eyes and nose or cough. Close to human measles, it is also nicknamed the “disease of young dogs”. It is a serious infection that first affects the intestine, then the respiratory system, the urinary system and, at a very advanced stage, the central nervous system. Distemper can be fatal in 90% of cases when not treated in time. So, to avoid such tragedies, we can understand that shelters have taken strict measures to isolate and protect their precious four-legged residents. Especially if an animal had been infected.
For the moment, the SPA of Perpignan sud does not confirm anything, and that of the North Polygon, closed doors, no longer answers calls. Pending therefore a possible reopening at the beginning of next week, no more visits are possible, and, therefore, adoptions either.
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