What is distemper in dogs? Understanding the canine disease, symptoms and causes
Just like people, dogs can fall ill. The most effective way to avoid illnesses is through vaccination.
There are essential vaccines that dogs should receive to protect against serious conditions, as highlighted by Dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer at the American Kennel Club, earlier in YSL News.
One of these crucial vaccines is the distemper vaccine. Canine distemper is highly infectious and can be fatal.
Every dog is vulnerable to distemper, making it vital to understand its causes, symptoms, and prevention methods.
What is distemper?
Canine distemper is a viral infection caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV), according to VCA Animal Hospitals. This disease can affect dogs as well as other animals, including wolves, foxes, ferrets, skunks, and raccoons.
All dogs can catch distemper, but those who haven’t been vaccinated and puppies younger than four months are the most at risk, according to the American Kennel Club.
Cats can also be affected by distemper, but the American Veterinary Medical Association notes that they are unlikely to become seriously ill.
The American Kennel Club outlines three primary ways distemper can spread:
- Direct contact with an infected animal or items
- Airborne transmission
- Through the placenta
Similar to how colds spread among humans, dogs can get distemper through face-to-face contact. This may occur via coughs, sneezes, or barks that release infectious droplets into the air, and can affect surfaces like food or water bowls, according to the American Kennel Club.
Infected female dogs can also transmit distemper to their puppies through the placenta, which emphasizes the importance of vaccinating dogs before breeding.
What does distemper do to dogs?
Distemper is a multi-system disease impacting a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Symptoms can differ based on the disease’s stage, report the American Kennel Club. Early signs include discharge from the eyes and nose, fever, and loss of appetite.
Additional symptoms in the initial stage may comprise:
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
As the disease advances, distemper can harm a dog’s nervous system. Neurological symptoms may include:
- Head tilting
- Poor coordination
- Muscle spasms
- Convulsions with “jaw-chewing motions”
- Excessive drooling
- Seizures
- Partial or complete paralysis
Distemper is sometimes referred to as “hard pad disease” due to its ability to thicken and harden a dog’s paw pads and nose, states the American Kennel Club.
Is distemper the same as parvo?
No, distemper and parvovirus are different diseases.
Parvovirus is a viral infection that predominantly affects a dog’s immune system and gastrointestinal tract, explained Dr. Whitney Miller, Chief Veterinarian at Petco, in a previous YSL News article.
For more information about parvovirus, refer to our guide.
Can dogs survive distemper?
The American Veterinary Medical Association states that one out of two dogs infected with distemper will not survive. For those that do survive, they may experience severe and permanent damage to their nervous system.
Currently, there is no cure or direct treatment for distemper, making vaccination the most effective prevention method.
It is crucial to ensure your puppy gets vaccinated and that its distemper shots remain up-to-date, advises the American Kennel Club.
