Canine Distemper Symptoms

Canine distemper is a viral infection that proceeds in stages and eventually affects the entire body. The canine distemper virus is contagious and spreads through the bloodstream rapidly, and may cause significant damage to gastrointestinal and respiratory systems of the body. Puppies and adult dogs with an impaired immune system are more prone to this type of infection.

Symptoms

As canine distemper is a progressive disease, the symptoms worsen with time. The dog may not show any symptoms immediately after getting contracted with the viral infection. Generally symptoms of canine distemper are visible within a few days after infection. Some of them are listed below:

Fever
Initially, the affected dog develops a mild fever, that gradually increases to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The change in body temperature occurs within a week.

Inflammation of Eyes
The eyes get swollen and thick ocular discharge is clearly visible. In some cases, wounds appear over the retina. Inflammation of the cornea and optic nerve are some of the other issues associated with this infection.

Respiratory Symptoms
As the virus spreads and invades the respiratory system, the dog experiences shortness of breath which may be accompanied by the following health problems given below:

• Coughing
• Greenish discharge from nose
• Runny nose
• Pneumonia

Intestinal Symptoms
When the virus attacks the intestinal tract, the dog's ability to digest food is significantly affected and this may lead to:

• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Upset stomach

Neurological Symptoms
After invading the intestine and the respiratory system, the virus attacks the brain. As a result, neurological symptoms are observed in the affected dog. These neurological complications, that generally occur a month after the dog gets infected with the virus, are given below:

• Snapping of jaw (no control over jaw movement)
• Muscle tremors (Inability to coordinate muscles)
• Seizures
• Convulsion (violent contraction of muscles)
• Paralysis
• Difficulty in walking

Treatment

Treatment aims at strengthening the immune system to improve the dog health. A systematic treatment plan involves the use of the following treatment methods:

NSAIDs
Firstly, to reduce the elevated body temperature, anti-fever medications have to be administered. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as paracetamol are commonly used to decrease fever.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics are prescribed to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia. This may be given in addition to the non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce fever.

Bronchodilators
To ease breathing problems and to open bronchial passages, bronchodilator drugs are administered intravenously.

Fluid Therapy
The frequent bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration. In order to combat dehydration, increase water intake of the dog. In case, the infection is severe, it won't be possible for the dog to drink water orally. So a better option would be intravenous administration of fluids. Or else one can use a dispenser syringe to eject water into the dog's mouth. This method is also used to feed the dog properly.

Food
Feeding the dog with nutritious high quality dog food is very important to improve its immunity against the infection. Veterinarians often use disposable syringes for feeding the dog, when it has consumed nothing for 24 hours due to poor appetite.

Other Medications
Drugs may be given to combat vomiting, diarrhea and convulsions.

Canine distemper treatment is intended to keep the affected dog comfortable. How long will the dog take to recover depends totally on its health and the severity of the infection. A healthy dog with no previous history of diseases may recover within 2-3 weeks. However, in some cases, dog may take months or even years to overcome neurological disorders.