Canine Distemper 

Canine Distemper 

Several viral and bacterial illnesses can make our four-legged friends sick. The good news is that many of these diseases are prevented by annual vaccinations. We often hear about rabies, parvovirus, and leptospirosis, and distemper is pushed to the back burner and not discussed frequently. The purpose of our article is to raise awareness about distemper.

Canine distemper belongs to a class of viruses known as paramyxovirus. This virus does not only affect dogs; it can affect ferrets, foxes, and wolves as well. Distemper starts as a respiratory illness and can spread to other body parts. Unfortunately, there is no cure for distemper, and treatment mainly consists of supportive care.

You may be wondering how canine distemper is spread. Distemper is primarily spread through droplets from the nose of an infected dog. These droplets can be licked up or can become airborne through sneezing, coughing, or even barking. Infected dogs can shed these viral particles for several months, but the virus does not survive on surfaces for very long.

It is crucial to understand the symptoms of canine distemper. The distemper virus causes signs that affect multiple organs. You can expect a dog to have the following symptoms with distemper:

  • Anorexia
  • Yellow eye discharge
  • Lethargy
  • Coughing
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Dogs may also experience neurological signs such as head tilting, seizures, and muscle twitching. Infected dogs are treated with supportive care based on their clinical symptoms. Your veterinarian will recommend intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections.

Prevention is key. Vaccinations are the best way to prevent the distemper virus. Distemper is commonly combined with other illnesses to create a combination vaccination, such as the distemper-parvo-adenovirus-parainfluenza vaccination. We hope that you understand the seriousness of the canine distemper virus and make the best decisions to ensure your dog is happy, healthy, and safe