What it is Canine Distemper?
Canine distemper is one of the most significant and contagious viral diseases in dogs. It targets multiple organ systems at once, and the result could be fatal.
Symptoms
Canine distemper may sometimes be confused with other diseases, as its symptoms are quite common.
Fever and sudden spikes in temperature may occur 3 to 6 days after infection. Other symptoms start showing 14 to 18 days after infection. Physical symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, and difficulty in breathing. Behavioural changes include lethargy, weakness, and depression. Brain dysfunction could also manifest as muscle twitch, especially around the mouth and legs. Severe cases could also result in seizures and paralysis. An easy to spot symptom of canine distemper, especially in older dogs, would be the hardening of the skin on the footpads and the nose. This disease could also result in sudden death.
How it spreads?
The virus is extremely contagious, and spreads through contact with bodily fluids. This includes airborne droplets, such as sprays of saliva from a sneeze or cough. Other bodily fluids responsible for spreading this virus include mucus from the nose and eyes, feces and urine. Infected bodily fluids can also contaminate food and water, and spread the virus in this way.
Who it affects?
Dogs of all ages can be affected by canine distemper, but puppies between 3 to 6 months old are the most susceptible to this disease, as their immune systems are not fully developed.
Vaccination and Prevention
Vaccinations against canine distemper may be given to puppies as young as 6 weeks. Re-vaccinations may also be given occasionally, sometimes yearly. To prevent the virus spreading, infected dogs should be quarantined. There is no direct treatment for canine distemper, so this is definitely a case of prevention being better than cure!
