The Tribune

By KYLE WALKINE

Tribune Staff Reporter

kwalkine@tribunemedia.net

DOG owners are being warned of a deadly virus that appears to be killing canines throughout New Providence shortly after they acquire it. 

According to the Bahamas Humane Society (BHS), the canine distemper virus (CDV) has been blamed for the death of numerous dogs whose owners were unaware that the virus was even in the country. 

Dr Solomon Kwakye, veterinarian at the BHS, said they have recently sent tests for the deadly virus to the United States and once the results come back then they can possibly confirm that the virus has landed in the Bahamas. 

However, for now, he said officials believe the virus attacking local dogs is the CDV. “We’ve seen a couple cases right here in our clinic on our animals and most of the private clinics have seen them as well,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “We have people who bring in their animals worried because it is obviously something serious, but they don’t know what it is.”

According to Dr Kwakye there is no treatment or cure for CDV, especially once it has reached a dog’s nervous system. “That is the final stage,” he said “but that comes very quickly.”

“Most of them start with a cold, common cough and then they develop a discharge from their nose and eyes. Most people call it ‘boo boo.’ Sometimes they have diarrhea or vomiting and no appetite. Then it would progress to the nervous system. That’s when they start to have seizures.”

Dr Kwakye said the virus develops very quickly but the severity of the illness depends on the dog’s immune system. The veterinarian added that the virus can be prevented if dogs are vaccinated. 

“Once a dog gets it, within less than one week they are out of it,” Dr Kwakye said. “It eventually gets to the point of no return. The last sign is they start to shake. Their muscles begin trembling and they move as if they’re drunk. They begin to foam from the mouth and they do as if they’re chewing gum.”

He said the virus was in the country four years ago but was later wiped out. However, veterinarians are now trying to determine if the most recent outbreak is a new strain of the deadly virus. 

Luval Culmer lost his 10-week old pitbull to the virus last month. 

He said: “I noticed she was walking up and down in circles, back and forth. That was the first thing I noticed. Then the vet told me she had a seizure before that, which triggered the brain damage. I also noticed she wasn’t eating or anything. All of this happened within a day. When I would hold her and try to get her to look at me, it was like she was in a daze. When I was on my way to the vet she had a seizure right in front of me. When we got to the vet, he showed me all the symptoms of the virus and how she displayed all of them. I noticed also that the bottom of her paw was peeling. Now it was on a Thursday that I noticed she was sick and doing all this stuff. Two days later she died.”

In light of the virus, the BHS advises dog owners to keep their pets on their property. “Do not send any canines, big or small, young or old, to or from the island of New Providence, internationally or between islands,” the BHS said in a statement. 

“Keep your animals on your property. No long and wonderful adventuresome walks for the time being. Play groups are not recommended either. We suspect that even some vaccinated dogs may be able to contract this present strain. However, there are tests being done that will confirm or dispel this theory.”

The BHS also recommends that all spay and neuter missions be suspended at present due to the possibility of transferring infection from dog to dog.