Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that affects dogs of all ages but is very serious in puppies. One of the best ways to control this disease is with a proper vaccination schedule. But let’s not get ahead of it and we will specify prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
The disease is caused by a Morbillivirus virus, of the Paramyxoviridae family, similar to that of human measles. Also known as canine distemper, it is one of the most common and deadly contagious diseases for dogs.
Infected animals shed the virus in all body secretions, even if the animal has no clinical signs. The most common way of contagion of canine distemper is through inhalation of the virus, then it spreads and is distributed throughout the body.
The elements that intervene in the progress of the clinical disease, those that cause some symptoms or others to appear, or that the distemper develops in one way or another are many, including age, vaccination process, race and potency of the virus. It occurs mainly in unvaccinated puppies. Senior dogs will suffer more acutely from the symptoms and immunosuppressed animals can be infected more easily despite having the vaccine.
Other canids and mustelids can also be infected. In the first group we find the wolf, the dingo, the fox, the coyote or the jackal. In the second there is the weasel, the skunk or the otter. Procyonids such as the coati, the red panda or the raccoon can also be harmed. Domestic cats are safe from this disease .
The symptoms that appear in this pathology are very varied: weakness, temperature above adequate, greenish discharge from the nose and neurological symptoms . We can gather the signals into two groups:
- General symptoms: respiratory and / or eye problems (rhinitis, conjunctivitis, pneumonia …), depression, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, inflammation of the bronchi. The pads and nose stiffen. It can affect the formation of enamel in puppies.
- Nervous symptoms: seizures, tremors, inability to move, blindness or nervous tics among others.
The diagnosis is very complex.
A presumptive judgment can be made based on symptoms, but laboratory ratification and interpretation can be difficult at times and do not always lead to conclusive results.
As distemper is a viral infection , there is no specific treatment. Dehydration, secondary infections and neurological symptoms must be treated, although the prognosis, especially when these nervous symptoms appear, is very negative.
As we always remember in Muy Pets, the best treatment against a disease is the preventive process, which in this case would be to keep the effects of the distemper vaccine up to date and this is achieved with reminders and visiting the veterinarian regularly to check that our animal maintains its good health.
We, from home, can help our animal not to contract this disease by providing it with a quality diet, the care it needs, encouraging exercise and giving it a smooth life. All of this will keep you healthy and strong.
