 At-Risk DogsPuppies under 4 months old and dogs who have not been vaccinated are at risk for contracting canine distemper. Transmission generally occurs through airborne exposure (droplets due to coughing or sneezing), or by sharing food, water bowls, or other items with an infected animal. Mother dogs can also pass the virus to their puppies via the placenta. Know the SignsCanine distemper symptoms generally start with the respiratory system before progressing to gastrointestinal and neurological problems:
TreatmentThere is no cure for distemper, and treatment is largely supportive, including IV fluid support and medications to control vomiting, diarrhea, secondary infections, and neurologic symptoms. Distemper is often fatal and surviving dogs tend to suffer from some form of permanent damage to the nervous system. Prevention of Canine DistemperCanine distemper is not a happy topic, but the good news is that this disease is entirely preventable. A series of vaccinations beginning when puppies are 6 to 8 weeks old, followed by regularly scheduled booster vaccinations throughout life, can protect your dog from the devastating effects of the disease. Other ways to avoid coming into contact with canine distemper include:
Your team at Schertz Animal Hospital is here for you! Please don’t hesitate to contact us any time with your questions and concerns regarding your pet. Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM on February 10, 2021 Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus caused by the paramyxovirus. It is seen in dogs around the world, but it can also affect ferrets, racoons, skunks, grey foxes, and many other animals. Canine distemper affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory, skin, immune, and central nervous systems. Symptoms can take up to 14 days to show up after exposure. Signs and symptoms of canine distemper include: Canine distemper may also cause brain inflammation and neurological symptoms, which is often confused with rabies. Neurological symptoms of canine distemper include:
At first, you may not notice symptoms of canine distemper, and it can be mistaken for other viruses and infections. Your dog can get a mild or severe case and may have symptoms that only last 10 days. However, neurological symptoms may be delayed and show up months after infection. Canine distemper is caused by the paramyxovirus virus. Animals get infected from contact with infected urine, blood, saliva, or respiratory droplets. Of these, transmission usually happens through droplets. It can be spread through coughing and sneezing or contaminated food and water bowls. Canine distemper can occur year round, but the virus is resistant to cold. The majority of cases in domestic dogs occur in the late fall and winter. Your dog can get canine distemper by being around other dogs or wild animals that have the virus. Puppies or older dogs that haven’t been vaccinated are most vulnerable. Dogs in shelters may also be vulnerable since their vaccinations may not be up to date. You should visit your vet when your dog shows any signs of canine distemper or you’re concerned about your dog’s health. Canine distemper is highly contagious among animals and requires aggressive medical treatment. You should also see the vet if:
Your vet will need to examine your dog to diagnose canine distemper. Sometimes signs of canine distemper don’t always appear right away, and it may look like other diseases or infections. Your vet may run different tests to rule out conditions like: Your vet may take throat, nose, or eye swabs, or urine or bone marrow samples. Testing these samples will help look for viral infection. They may also test blood or spinal fluid for antibodies or take biopsies of the footpad to test for viral DNA. There is no cure for canine distemper, but your vet can recommend supportive care and symptom treatment. Some treatments for canine distemper may include: It’s important to visit your vet right away if you suspect your dog is sick. Immediate and aggressive treatment may help your dog recover completely, but sometimes neurological symptoms persist in some animals. In these cases, your vet may prescribe immune system medications, anti-inflammatories, or steroids, but they’re not always successful. For some dogs, canine distemper can be serious and fatal. You can prevent canine distemper in puppies and your adult dog through vaccination. Puppies can receive the distemper vaccine at six weeks old and then every three to four weeks until 16 weeks old. Immunity may last for three years or more, but your vet may recommend a specific vaccine schedule based on how common distemper is in your area. If your dog can’t be vaccinated, avoid other dogs that are sick or that may have the virus. Maintain a healthy diet and exercise program and clean your dog’s living area regularly. While these may not directly prevent distemper, they will help keep your dog healthy. Before taking your dog to a boarding kennel, make sure your dog is vaccinated and healthy. Canine distemper in puppies is serious and often fatal as puppies are more susceptible to viral infections. Adult dogs can recover from canine distemper but often have lasting neurological or central nervous disorders like:
These signs may not appear until after recovery or later in life.
Distemper in dogs is a highly contagious and often fatal disease that is seen in canines worldwide. It affects multiple body systems, from the nervous system to the brain and spine. Though its prevalence has diminished greatly due to effective vaccinations, distemper cases and outbreaks are still seen sporadically. Canine distemper is a sometimes fatal virus that can infect a dog at any age, especially puppies if they are not vaccinated or not yet fully protected by a vaccination. It also can infect several other species including ferrets and wild animals such as coyotes, foxes, wolves, skunks, and raccoons. Canine distemper causes symptoms in multiple body systems, including the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, brain, and spinal cord. Neurological symptoms of distemper may not develop at all or develop later in the disease (sometimes even after several weeks). The appearance of symptoms and the course of distemper can be variable, ranging from very mild illness to fatal disease. Here are the many symptoms of distemper.
Often a fever that occurs a few days after infection may go unnoticed, and it will usually subside. However, a second fever can occur a few days later when the other symptoms begin to show up. Discharge is a main symptom of canine distemper. The discharge from the nose and eyes could be somewhat clear and watery, but will more than likely show as pus-like in appearance and texture. The distemper virus will attack the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Your dog will likely feel increasingly lethargic as the virus makes its way through its system and causes all of the other symptoms that your pet is trying to manage. Any breathing or coughing problems in a dog that has recently been in a shelter or kennel should not be automatically considered as the common "kennel cough." These symptoms could be the onset of pneumonia, which could be associated with distemper. There may be a tough or crusty coating that is formed on the dog's footpads and/or nose (which is why distemper has sometimes been called "hard pad" disease). Along with eye discharge, a dog with distemper could experience eye inflammation. The inflammation can appear as swollen or reddened from the irritation and discomfort of the discharge. The development of secondary bacterial infections, such as dermatitis or pneumonia, may develop, which can complicate the attempt to diagnose distemper. As the virus continues to course through your pet's nervous system, your dog may begin to involuntarily twitch its muscles. As the virus hits the central nervous system, your dog may experience slight or complete paralysis. The weakness is most often seen in the hind limbs, but will soon follow by all four limbs becoming non-functional. Seizures will begin to occur on any part of the body. However, specific seizures that look as if the dog is chewing gum are unique to distemper. The seizures will become more frequent as the disease progresses in the dog's system. The neurological signs of distemper will appear as uncontrolled and uncoordinated movements, including walking around in circles or your dog may fall on its side and make involuntary paddling movements with its legs. Your dog may also keep its head tilted along with rapid and involuntary eye movements. This symptom may occur in advanced cases of distemper. Your dog may have an increased sensitivity to your touch or any pain it may feel. In addition, a dog may have an increased sensitivity to light because it is experiencing eye discomfort. Canine distemper is caused by the canine distemper virus. Animals usually become infected by direct contact with virus particles from the secretions of other infected animals (generally via inhalation). Indirect transmission, carried on dishes or other objects, is not common because the virus does not survive for long in the environment. The virus can be shed by treated dogs for several weeks after recovery. Puppies under four months of age (before vaccinations are fully protective) and unvaccinated dogs are most at risk. Because canine distemper also occurs in wild animals, contact with wild animals may contribute to the spread of distemper to domestic dogs. Because signs are variable and may take time to appear, and secondary infections are common, the diagnosis of distemper can be complicated. Additionally, other infections can produce similar signs to distemper. A variety of laboratory tests, such as blood and smear tests, can help confirm the diagnosis (and some may be done to rule out other infections). There is no cure for the distemper virus, so treatment involves managing the various symptoms and secondary infections. Even with treatment, distemper can be fatal. Treatment depends on the symptoms shown. Treatments may include the following:
Dogs suspected of having distemper should be isolated from other dogs, and the other dogs should be vaccinated if they are not currently vaccinated. The canine distemper virus does not typically survive long outside the body so thorough disinfection of the home is not as critical as with some other viruses; routine cleaning with any disinfectant should be sufficient. Check with your vet for recommendations on waiting times to introduce a new puppy to a household with a dog that has been diagnosed with distemper.
Prognosis depends on various factors such as the timing of treatment and the dog's immune system. However, neurological symptoms may progressively worsen and not respond to treatment. Even with recovery, some neurological effects, such as seizures, may persist in your dog. Vaccination is effective at preventing distemper. Puppies are typically vaccinated starting at six weeks of age and at regular intervals until they are 14 to 16 weeks old (as with other vaccines, the presence of antibodies received from the mother can interfere with vaccines so a puppy is not considered fully protected until the final vaccine in the series has been given). Vaccination should be repeated a year later, then at regular intervals. Your vet will discuss an appropriate vaccination schedule for your dog based on your dog's history and risk factors. Until puppies have received all the vaccinations in the series (at 14 to 16 weeks) it is prudent to be careful about exposing them to unknown dogs such as at dog parks to avoid exposure to the virus as much as possible. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. |
How to prevent distemper in dogs
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