Our public veterinary care services need strengthening

I started vaccinating my dog from the fifth week after birth and since it is critical to vaccinate against major viruses, a veterinary surgeon at the Government Veterinary Hospital in Welisara Ragama, recommended the dog be given the vaccination against the Parvo virus. On my subsequent visits to the vet, the dog was given the vaccinations for other major diseases including the second vaccination for Parvo.

However, after the 12th week it contracted the Parvo virus and was rushed to the same hospital for treatment and treated continuously for four days. The fifth day being a Sunday they told me to show the dog to a private vet but with all this care it died on the sixth day.

The veterinary care at Government hospital is expensive and we pay for all the medicine, equipment and medical services but there is a serious doubt about the quality of the medicines being administered and services provided. The said hospital lacks basic supplies like Sodium Chloride (Saline), Metronidazole etc. and they have to be bought outside and brought to the hospital. Though a list of veterinary surgeons is published, there is basically the same vet almost all the time. Most of the vaccinations and medical services are performed by personnel wearing rubber slippers. Gone are the good days when the quality of these public institutions was of high standard.

I request the Govt, to give priority to strengthening Public Veterinary Services specifically in the forward march for dairy farming in our country.

Adrian Weerasekera Via email