FAQs
National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH), Department of Livestock (DoL), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL).
(1) To function as the national referral laboratory for animal health.
(2) To function as the national centre for veterinary epidemiology.
(3) To ensure availability of quality veterinary medicines, vaccines and equipment.
(4) To function as an institute for capacity development in animal health.
(1) To notify the Centre about animal disease outbreaks.
(2) To report or enquire about dog population management and related issues.
(3) To enquire about animal health programs in the country and report relevant issues.
(1) Biological Production Unit.
(2) Dog Population Management Unit.
(3) Disease Prevention and Control Unit.
(4) Drug, Vaccine and Equipment Unit.
(5) Laboratory Services Unit.
As per the Livestock Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, following are the notifiable animal diseases (non-zoonotic) in the country: African Swine Fever,
Avian Influenza, Avian Leucosis Complex, Black Quarter, Classical Swine Fever, Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia, Equine Influenza, Foot and Mouth Disease, Glanders, Hemorrhagic Septicaemia, Infectious Bursal Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease, Marek's Disease, Newcastle Disease, Peste des petits ruminants, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, Sheep and Goat Pox, and
Strangles.
As per the Livestock Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, following are the zoonotic notifiable animal diseases in the country: Anthrax, Brucellosis, Campylobacteriosis, Colibacillosis, Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Cysticercosis, Dermatomycosis, Ehrlichiosis, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Hydatidosis, Leishmaniasis, Leptospirosis, Listeriosis, Rabies, Salmonellosis, Toxocariasis, Toxoplasmosis, Trichenellosis, and Tuberculosis.
It extends to Nationwide Accelerated Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Program.
As early as one month of age.
At the nearest Animal Health Extension Centre (Veterinary Hospitals/ Gewog Livestock Extension Centre).
If the dog is owned/pet, in line with the Livestock Act of Bhutan 2001 and Livestock Rules and Regulations 2017, please lodge a complaint to RBP for necessary intervention. For now, wash your wound with soap and clean water for about 15 minutes and visit the nearest Health Centre for treatment and advice from the Medical Officer.
If it’s a free roaming or stray dog, report to the Local Authority (Thromde or Gewog).
Microchip is a passive radio-frequency device implanted subcutaneously at the neck (back) of the dog. The microchip has a unique 15-digit identification number which is linked to the owner and pet details recorded in the central registry, the Veterinary Information System. It gives your dog a permanent and legal identification and there is no chance of losing it.
Please contact your nearest Animal Health Extension Centre to get an information on pet dog microchipping service in your locality.
Microchip is not a GPS tracker; thus we cannot track the dog on a real time basis. However, if someone finds your dog and presents it to any Animal Health Extension Centre in the country, we can get your details and you will be contacted.
All the veterinary services such as treatment, vaccination, deworming, sterilisation, surgical procedures, etc. are provided free of cost by the government.
The pet owners are required to pay a minimal fee to avail the service of microchipping and registration. For updated information on this, please contact the nearest Animal Health Extension Centre.
Following are the livestock diseases against which vaccines are provided by the government: Foot-and-mouth disease, Haemorrhagic septicaemia, Black quarter, Lumpy skin disease, Rabies, Infectious bursal disease, Newcastle disease, Fowl pox, Marek's disease, Classical swine fever, Peste des petits ruminants.
Yes, all the veterinary medicines are provided free of cost in Bhutan.
Vaccine is an antigenic/biological preparation such as bacteria, virus or toxin that is administered either as injections or through oral routes and stimulates the body's immune response against the disease specific to the agent. The candidates for the vaccines are prepared either using the killed or weakened form of the germs and do not cause the disease.
The term vaccination means giving the animal a vaccine through different routes of administration such as injections or oral route using the dead or weakened microbes that cause the disease. It stimulates the immune system to form antibodies that protect the animal from contracting this disease. It is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting you against harmful diseases, before the animal comes in contact with the causative agent.
The purpose of Vaccination in animals is to stimulate the immune system of animals in producing antibodies specific to the disease and thereby protecting the animals if exposed to the natural infection. This will reduce the production losses from the animals which normally occurs during the outbreak in unvaccinated animals. We can also prevent the socio-economic losses as a result of vaccination as the animals stay protected without suffering from the disease.
The vaccine once given to animals produces protective immunity. The immunity is produced by the vaccine through the stimulation of the reaction to animals by producing antibodies, which are the main defense agent specific to the disease. The animals react to the vaccination either through the slight swelling at the site of injection or by exhibiting clinical signs of the disease which are either mild or unnoticeable or acceptable without causing health problems.
The vaccine produces protein substances in the body of animals known by the name of antibodies against that particular vaccine against the disease. These antibodies remain in the blood system at optimal protective levels for about six months to a few years depending on the type of vaccines. The animal remains protected against the disease as long as the antibodies in the blood are at optimal level otherwise revaccination has to be done as per the vaccination schedule specified by the company specific to the disease.
The animal starts producing antibodies or protective immunity after 15 to 21 days of post-vaccination and reaches its peak by about a month specific to the vaccination against the disease. If the infection occurs before the development of antibodies post vaccination at optimal level in the blood of the animal, the animal is likely to get infected with the disease.
The animals after vaccination shall be kept for a minimum of one month to develop optimal levels of antibodies or protective immunity against the disease. The animal during the transportation is likely to be under stress and so the chances of the animal getting sick is likely. Therefore we recommend keeping the animals at least for about a month after vaccination before movement or migration to other places.
In general vaccines are safe in pregnant animals. However this will be based on the vaccine specific instructions available along with the vaccines from different manufacturing companies for different vaccines
The development of full protection from the vaccine takes approximately two to three weeks. The animals may still get infected by the field virus, and may show clinical signs despite being vaccinated. Some animals which are incubating the virus when vaccinated will show signs of the disease before the immunity develops in animals after vaccination against the disease. There are also instances where the vaccines may not provide adequate protection resulting in a clinical disease due to various reasons. The reasons for the vaccination failures comprises of poor vaccine quality, animal response and inappropriate route of administration. The poor vaccine quality is at large attributed to inadequate management of vaccine during transport and storage before vaccination due to the spoilage of vaccines as a result of not maintaining the temperature within 2 to 8 deg C in cold storage.
There are few side effects of vaccination in livestock and poultry and so the animals shall be monitored for vaccine reactions for at least 24 hours following vaccinations. The main signs are allergic reaction, sudden onset of diarrhea, vomiting, seizures, coma, and shock. The animals' gums may be very pale, and the limbs will feel cold.
| Species | Side Effects |
| Dog | Lethargy, localized swelling, itchy skin, mild fever, decreased appetite, vomiting, witching; Itchy skin; Vomiting; Diarrhoea; Limping, discomfort |
| Cattle | An allergic reaction can be mild and local, with swelling at the injection site. Vaccination against FMD can cause adverse reaction such as urticarial, exudative and necrotic dermatitis in dairy cows 8 days later after vaccination, due to anaphylaxis. There can also be lethargy and allergic reactions |
| Pigs | Common side effects of receiving a vaccination include lethargy, pain at the injection site, or a slight fever. These symptoms usually resolve within 24 hours. A dose of an NSAID may be recommended for your pig to relieve discomfort. |
| Pet (dogs and Cat) | The signs of swelling at the injection site with mild fever is normal after vaccination. However with severe reactions such as hives with the signs of facial swelling with difficulty in breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and collapse may require the attention of a veterinarian. |
List of different types of livestock and poultry vaccines for free distribution
Note: For the detailed vaccination schedule kindly contact the nearest Livestock Centre.
List of different types of livestock and poultry vaccines recommended in pet dogs and cats through client purchase from private pharmacies
| Vaccine Against | Specification of vaccine | Livestock and Poultry Species | Remarks (Age) |
| Lumpy Skin Disease | Homologous LSD Vaccine | Cattle, Mithun, Yak and Buffaloes | All age groups above one month of age. |
| Marek's Disease | HVT FC126 strain of Turkey Herpes Virus | Poultry (Layers and Broilers) | Day Old Chicks Poultry |
| Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) | Infectious Bursal Disease Intermediate strain | Poultry (Layers and Broilers) | 3 days, 14 days and 28 days old Poultry |
| NewCastle Disease (ND-B1) | B1 strain of Newcastle disease virus | Poultry (Layers and Broilers) | 7 days old and 2 weeks old Poultry but vaccination at 18 weeks old age birds is optional |
| NewCastle Disease (ND-R2B) | Mukteshwar strain of Newcastle disease | Poultry (Layers and Broilers) | 8 weeks and 16 weeks old Poultry followed by annual vaccination. |
| Fowl Pox | Fowl pox Virus freeze dried pellet form | Poultry (Layers and Broilers) | 6 weeks and 14 weeks old poultry |
| Classical Swine Fever (CSF) | CSFV- Weybridge strain | Pig | Above 45 days old |
| Haemorrhagic Septicemia-Black Quarter (HS-BQ) combined vaccine | Gel Vaccine | Cattle, Mithun, Yak and Buffaloes | All age groups above 2 months. |
| Foot and Mouth Disease (Trivalent) | Inactivated Tissue Culture FMD strain O,A,Asia 1 | Cattle, Mithun, Yak Buffaloes, Sheep, goat and Pig | All age groups above 2 months. |
| Peste des Petits (PPR) | Live attenuated(PPRV) Sungri 96 strain | Goat | All age groups above 2 months |
| Rabies | Inactivated Rabies antigen | Dog and Cat | Above 2 months age |
| Anthrax Spore Vaccine | Live virus | Cattle, Yak, Buffaloe and Sheep | Vaccination above 3 months old in endemic areas |
| Vaccine Against | Specification of vaccine | Livestock and Poultry Species | Remarks (Age) |
| DHPPi+L Vaccine | Modified and inactivated forms of the pathogens responsible for the targeted diseases- 8 weeks of age against canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus type I (CA V-2), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) and Canine adenovirus type 2, Inactivated Leptospira Canicola and Leptospira Icterohaemorrhagiae. | Dog | Above 3 weeks and old as per the vaccination schedule |
| Trio Feline Vaccine | Nobivac® Riocat Trio against Feline panleucopaenia virus (FPLV), Feline herpes virus (FHV) and Feline calicivirus (FCV). | Cat | After 6 weeks of age onwards |
The missing of the vaccination either due to the expiry of the re-vaccination or a new vaccination subjects the animal to the risk of getting the disease. Monitor the date for re-vaccination and also the vaccination schedule for livestock and poultry species of the country either from the nearest livestock center or website.
NCAH has laboratory facilities for animals known as Laboratory service unit. You can avail the laboratory
facilities after consultation with the Veterinarian or Para- veterinarian from the nearest clinic
The laboratory service unit at NCAH receives the samples from animals (such as – urine, blood, stool,
pus, etc from cattle, pigs, poultry etc) and performs specific tests to identify the disease causing agent,
that can be bacteria, virus, and parasite
The tests are performed as per the standard turnaround time to provide the results at the earliest. You
can contact the nearest veterinary clinic for results
You can contact the nearest veterinary clinic/extension centres for the results. The results will be
available online using the laboratory information management system (LIMS) with the sample
registration number as soon as the results are out
There are ten sections under LSU:
1) Serology
2) Virology
3) Molecular biology
4) Mycology
5)Bacteriology
6) Histopathology
7) Toxicology
8) Biochemistry
9) Parasitology
10) Postmortem
It is closed during weekends and government holidays. In cases of emergency the toll free number (1244) can be used to get directives.
You will have to report the cases to the nearest veterinary hospital and seek their advice for further
testing
Yes, the samples should reach the laboratory on time, maintaining cold temperature and without
contamination. The nearest veterinary hospital will be able to guide you on sample transportation and
apparatus for sample collection.
Standard operating protocol for sample collection and transportation should be followed based on type
of sample and type of test required
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