Canine Distemper | Distemper in Dogs Facts, Symptoms & Treatment

 Canine Distemper-

The name of the disease comes from the virus that causes the problem: canine distemper virus (CDV). CDV is closely related to the measles virus in humans. The distemper virus affects several different carnivorous mammals and it's very common in raccoons, skunks and foxes. It's also been seen in hyenas, weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, mink, wolverines and big cats in zoos. Most carnivorous mammals can be infected with some form of the distemper virus, and distemper itself is considered to be a global disease.

Distemper can be transmitted to your pup in a few different ways — via airborne exposure when droplets from an infected animal's nose contaminate their environment, through direct exposure with an infected animal or in utero through the placenta

Distemper Symptoms in Dogs

Distemper can affect many parts of a dog's body, but it usually impacts the respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological systems. Additional areas that can be affected by distemper include the eyes, genitals, teeth, paw pad and nose skin, and endocrine (glands), urinary and immune systems.

Young dogs are much more susceptible to distemper than adult dogs. The first sign of distemper is usually a fever accompanied by discharge from the nose and eyes. Dogs with distemper often have very low energy and won't want to eat. Usually, these symptoms are followed by effects on a dog's gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract or nervous system, which can include:

Preventing Distemper

Fortunately, a highly effective modified live vaccine exists to prevent distemper in dogs, which is considered a core vaccine for puppies. It's recommended that all puppies 6 weeks old and older receive three to four distemper vaccine boosters every two to four weeks until they're 16 weeks old.

Most puppies are protected from distemper when they're born, thanks to the powerful antibodies they receive from their mother's milk. However, these maternal antibodies wear off as the puppy grows, leaving them vulnerable to infection. These antibodies also interfere with the vaccine, which is why a pup will need multiple boosters to appropriately develop vaccine antibodies.

Distemper is a serious disease, but it doesn't have to affect your precious pup's health. By following your veterinarian's vaccine recommendations and heeding the tell-tale signs mentioned above, you can easily protect your dog from distemper.