A fatal respiratory disease that has not been identified yet is spreading among the puppies, Veterinarian Upul Sagarathilaka said.
Dr. Sagarathilaka said that puppies less than eight months are more prone to this and that no successful treatment has been found for this respiratory disease so far.
Shortness of breath and rapid breathing, vomiting and diarrhoea, discoloration of gums (paleness), loss of appetite, lethargy are the symptoms of the disease. Hybrid species are more prone to the disease.
It has spread widely in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Matale Districts and it was reported that 80% of the puppies in Gampola, Nawalapitiya, Ginigathhena and Hatton have been affected by this disease.
In order to prevent this disease, Dr. Sagarathilaka requested the owners to avoid feeding cold food including yogurt and fresh milk to the puppies and to avoid bathing them for four to five months.
He also requested that puppies under eight months be taken care of by following proper safe methods.
