Dog Illnesses - Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper is a very serious and often fatal viral illness that affects dogs and other members of the Canidae family; it also infects other animals belonging to the Mustelidae, Procyonidae, Mephitidae, and Felidae Families. Canine Distemper is also known by the term 'Hard Pad'. This is because the Canine Distemper virus often causes enlargement and thickening of the pads of the feet. This is one of the less serious effects of Distemper.

The illness mainly attacks the nervous system of the dog and causes fits and sometimes even paralysis.

The illness can strike a dog at any age. But young, unvaccinated dogs and puppies are most susceptible to Canine Distemper. This is the reason that dog owners are strongly advised to vaccinate their pets at the earliest and keep their dogs isolated until all vaccination shots have been given.

How the infection is spread

The Distemper Virus is transmitted by coming in contact directly with the infected dog, or indirectly with its saliva or urine. The distemper virus is also spread through air and through contact with the bedding or utensils used by the affected animal.

Symptoms of Canine Distemper

The signs of the disease can appear after 3 or 4 days or even after some 18 days after infection.

The first signs of the illness manifest themselves in the form of a high fever (39 degrees C or 102 Degrees F), accompanied by reddened eyes and a thick or watery discharge from the nose.

The virus first attacks the tonsils and the lymph nodes, and the dog becomes sluggish and loses all its appetite and stops eating. It loses weight drastically. It also displays a persistent cough. Often acute vomiting and diarrhea with bloody traces also follows.

There is a distinct thickening - hyperkeratosis - of the foot pads, and the teeth start turning brown and show pits.

This is followed by signs of neurological damage - fits and chorea or nervous tics.

Chances of Survival

The Canine Distemper virus, although not a zoonosis, resembles the measles virus. The vaccine to prevent measles is often used to treat puppies that have been exposed to Distemper. Older dogs are treated with various antibiotic injections, intravenous fluid drips, and force-feeding them supplementary nutrient-rich liquids and foods.

However, there is no complete cure for Canine Distemper as yet and, in a majority of cases, the illness proves fatal. But, sometimes, if the defensive anti-bodies in a particular dog are strong, the infection is overcome and the animal recovers.

The dogs that survive Distemper often either lose their teeth or their teeth are pitted and brownish in color. They have thickened skins of the nose and on the foot-pads and can also show corneal discoloring and retinal damage.

Sometimes though, while it looks as if the dog has recovered, the virus lives on in its brain and after a gap of several years suddenly activates. This form of Distemper, for obvious reasons, is called 'Old Dog Encephalitis'.

But in a large percentage of cases, the illness has an immediate adverse effect. The Distemper virus quickly spreads throughout the body and attacks the nervous system. Once this happens the situation is hopeless. The affected dog suffers fits, sometimes even paralysis. In such cases, it is best to consider euthanizing the dog.

Prevention is the Best Cure

Canine Distemper cannot be cured, but it can be easily prevented. Adequate precautions should be taken to avoid this illness altogether. Puppies should receive their first vaccination against the Distemper virus at the age of about 6 weeks. This is the time when most puppies are weaned and so the protection afforded by the antibodies provided by the mother's milk is lessening. The second vaccination should be given a month later.

Until all the vaccinations are complete, the puppy or older dog should be quarantined and not be allowed any contact with other dogs or places where other dogs frequent.

Infected animals should be immediately isolated and the surrounding areas should be thoroughly cleansed with strong detergents. This will kill the virus and prevent it from transferring to another host.