By Heidi Clayton
One of the most lethal and preventable viruses that your dog could contract is the canine distemper virus. The vaccine for this virus is considered one of the core vaccines recommended for dogs. You could save your dog’s life by staying up-to-date on that vaccine.
Canine distemper is a contagious virus in the “paramyxovirus” family, similar to measles. What makes it so deadly is that the symptoms are similar to common ailments in dogs, which can be missed or misdiagnosed until it’s too late. The virus attacks multiple body systems simultaneously, resulting in a widespread infection.
There are three ways to contract distemper, which are direct contact with an infected dog, airborne particles that infect surfaces and water dishes, and through placentas. While the shed virus does not last long on surfaces, an infected dog can shed the virus for several months. Distemper is also not exclusive to dogs and occurs in wild animals that do live in our area such as raccoons, foxes, and skunks. This virus can also occur in pet ferrets.
The symptoms of distemper appear in two phases. Phase one has symptoms that mimic common ailments in dogs such as watery or pus-like discharge from the eyes, fever, loss of appetite, clear nasal discharge, vomiting, and diarrhea. As the virus spreads, the pads of the dog’s foot will start to swell and harden. Distemper can also cause swelling in the dog’s brain.
Phase two of distemper symptoms involves the virus infecting both the digestive and respiratory systems. Eventually, distemper progresses to neurological issues such as head tilts, walking in circles, partial or full paralysis, seizures, convulsions, and death.
Distemper is diagnosed with a PCR-type test, through blood, or possibly testing the spinal fluid for the presence of the virus.
There is currently no cure for distemper. Once they reach phase two, the infected dog will most likely be hospitalized and given supportive care to fight multiple infections.
The chances of survival depend on the strength of the dog’s immune system prior to the infection. Dogs that survive distemper always have lasting issues that can persist from several weeks to months. Surviving dogs also commonly experience permanent neurological damage.
You can prevent this awful virus in your dog easily by keeping to a vaccination schedule. Most puppies get the first dose of the vaccine between ages 6-8 weeks, with booster vaccines being given every 2-4 weeks until the puppy is 14-16 weeks old. The last vaccine is the most important so be sure not to miss it.
Thanks to the canine distemper vaccine, this deadly disease is not seen as frequently in the dog world as it had been in the years ago.
Remember that we have foxes, skunks, raccoons, and ferrets living in our area. Your dog could be exposed to distemper, and, if not vaccinated, contract it. By following your vet’s advice on keeping current with the vaccine, you can check this disease off of your list of dog ownership worries.
On a happier note, the staff of Four on the Floor Dog Training IchiBan, Sushi, Fuji, Miki, as well as myself wish everyone a merry and peaceful Christmas.
If you have any questions, please feel free
to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
