What A Dog Owner Must Know About Canine Distemper
Canine distemper, just the mention of the name sends dog owners into a panic. And with good reason too, because this disease is incurable, highly contagious, and quite ofter deadly. Caused by the canine distemper virus, a paramyxovirus quite similar to that which causes human measles, this disease attacks the digestive, respiratory and nervous systems.
The canine distemper virus (or CDV) can be transmitted through the air, or through bodily fluids such as urine. Dogs that show symptoms should be treated straight away, and once the veterinary diagnosis confirms CDV, quarantined immediately.
CDV affects dogs of all ages but is particularly dangerous to puppies aged 3-6 months. A preventative vaccine may lessen the risk, so it is important that your puppy gets this. It is usually included in the core puppy shots, but ask your vet, to be sure.
What makes CDV such a deadly disease is that it attacks multiple body systems at once. A dog that contracts the virus will display several symptoms including, discharge from eyes and nose, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, convulsions and seizures. Left untreated the disease will ultimately cause heart and respiratory system failure.
Many dogs will not display all of these symptoms. If the infection is mild, the dog may only cough, and it is not uncommon in these cases for the disease to be misdiagnosed as kennel cough.
In other cases, the dog may develop pneumonia. It is also quite common for dogs that recover from the disease to suffer severe tooth enamel damage, as well as thickening of the nose and footpads. There may also be permanent damage to the dog’s vision as well as the nervous system.
A veterinarian faced with a suspected case of CDV will run several tests to confirm the diagnosis. These include analysis of urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood samples. In addition, a skin biopsy may be performed to confirm the presence of the canine distemper virus.
If the tests confirm the worst, the vet will immediately put the dog on a drip in order to prevent dehydration. The vet may also give anti-seizure medication if required.
Canine distemper is a lethal disease that spreads rapidly and can quickly decimate a kennel, particularly if not all dogs have been vaccinated. Not all dogs that contract the virus die, but a significant number do, and it is particularly brutal on puppies and older dogs.
Currently, the disease is considered to be incurable but fortunately great advances have been made in veterinary medicine. An effective CDV cure, with minimal side effects, may be available sooner rather than later.
To learn more about distemper in dogs, dog care, dog behavior and other interesting dog advice visit http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com
