COMPLETE GUIDE TO CANINE DISTEMPER PREVENTION

What is canine distemper?   

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease of the whole body, essentially the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and the nervous system of dog and other wild canines like wolves, coyotes, foxes, ferrets, lions, and cats among others.

HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?

Via aerosol: inhalation of droplets of moisture exhaled by an infected animal.

Puppies are the population at greatest risk of coming down with infection

HOW DO YOU TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS CANINE DISTEMPER?

Dogs with Canine distemper exhibit the following signs

1. Short fever which lasts 3-6 days; post infection usually occurs

2.  Loss of appetite

3. A second fever follows after the first subsides and this lasts several days and may be seen alongside discharges from the nose and eyes

4. The skin of the foot pads and nose are overgrown, hence “hard pad” disease

5. Central nervous system signs associated:

·  Twitching of muscles of a localized area e.g face, legs.

·  Bacterial infection may be complicated in animals with distemper

· Partial or total paralysis first with the hind limbs (legs) and the all four limbs (legs and hands).

·Convulsions, drooling and chewing movement of the jaw. As the disease progresses so does the seizures. The dog may fall on one of its sides and paddle its legs

The course of the disease is 10days at least.

Puppies infected with canine distemper are highly feverish and show signs of widespread infection.

Some dogs may recover, in which case intensive nursing care is advised. Also, some dogs may not make it to recovery (especially those neurological problems of distemper) even after treatment is administered. 

In such case, the most humane thing to do is euthanasia (to put it down). Your vet would choose and combine the therapy as appropriate for your pet’s condition, for best results.

HOW DO I PREVENT MY PET FROM CANINE DISTEMPER?

It is simple! Canine distemper vaccine is administered at 5-6 weeks of age with 2 booster doses at 2 weeks interval, which means, it should be repeated at 8 and 10 weeks and then yearly. 

It is important to see a veterinarian for the complete Vaccination schedule for your dog based on you area and the dog’s health.