Prevention is Vital in Avoiding Canine Distemper, One of The Most Fatal Dog Diseases

Canine distemper is one of most fatal dog health issues, which kills half of the dogs that contract the illness. Canine distemper is a virus, the canine distemper virus or CDV, which influences several systems in the body, including the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and central nervous system in your pet dog. Despite the fact that there is a vaccine for it, canine distemper is still one of the most serious dog disorders all-around the world. Canines most vulnerable to the ailment are those aged between three to six months old, who more likely to die from it than older dogs. Canine distemper is principally disseminated through the air via airborne virus particles that come from the bodily fluids and excrement of dogs infected with the canine distemper virus. 

Pets that are getting better from the disorder can still shed the canine distemper virus for weeks after signs and symptoms have disappeared, although they are no more contagious once they have fully recovered. The first symptom is a high fever (103°F – 106°F) which spikes three to six days after the dog is infected and may spike again a few days after. The fever will be followed by the canine distemper gastrointestinal and respiratory signs, followed by the neurological symptoms.

The gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms of canine distemper include:

-Pneumonia
-Runny nose and watery eyes, with discharge 
-Vomiting
-Diarrhea

Additionally, there may be neurological complications that are the main reason of death for dogs catching canine distemper. Neurological symptoms include:

- Insufficient coordination and use of muscles (ataxia)
-Paralysis
-Deterioration of motor skills and mental abilities
-Fits and seizures
-Depression
-Improved reaction to sensory stimuli such as light, sound, smell, and touch

In addition, dogs can suffer from eye conditions such as inflammation, conjunctivitis (eye discharge), lesions on the retina and inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) which can cause blindness. They could also develop lesser conditions that could become chronic such as the loss of the cells that make up teeth enamel (enamel hypoplasia, which regularly affects young puppies whose permanent teeth have not yet developed) and hardening of the nose and foot pads (hyperkeratosis).

After the pet dog contracts canine distemper, there are no identified treatments for the disorder other than to try to alleviate the often deadly symptoms, so prevention is key. Puppies should be inoculated with their complete set of vaccinations, containing the canine distemper (CDV) vaccine, plus all other regular dog illnesses, before they are ever allowed out on the street, and they should get their follow up shots once a year afterwards. The CDV vaccine may also prevent the pup or dog from developing a full-blown case of the ailment if it is administered within 4 days of being exposed to canine distemper. Young puppies should be vaccinated when they are 6-8 weeks old, and then vaccinated yearly thereafter.

If a dog does develop canine distemper, there are a few things you can do to try to relieve the symptoms. These include anti-vomiting and anti-diarrheal drugs, antibiotics for pneumonia, and anticonvulsants for seizures. The dog might also profit from intravenous fluids to rehydrate it in the occasion of bad diarrhea and vomiting. If the dog recovers, chronic conditions such as enamel hypoplasia and hyperkeratosis can be treated by having the enamel restored and applying paw rubs or Vaseline to dry paws. Glucocorticoid treatment may also be used to address blindness ensuing from optic neuritis but can deteriorate the immune system and worsen symptoms of the ailment in the long term.

For a complete guide on stress-free dog care, including comprehensive and detailed advice on when your dog requires to see the vet, how to react to pet emergencies, dog First Aid and all ordinary health problems, take a look at The Ultimate Dog Health Guide. It’s a complete manual on dog health care, and shows you how to take a positive and qualified method to experienced dog ownership.