Canine distemper is one of the more serious diseases that can strike at our beloved puppies and dogs. It’s a relative of our own measles virus. It’s also fatal in about half of the dogs that contract it, so it’s vital for us to protect our dogs from this highly contagious virus. Besides dog supplements for general canine health, vaccinations go a long way towards keeping our pets free of this disease.
Symptoms of Canine Distemper
Puppies between the ages of three and six months are at highest risk of getting distemper, even if they enjoy good dog nutrition. The symptoms of distemper are eye discharge. Look for discharge that is watery to pus-like. You may later see discharge from your dog’s nose, coughing, fever, and other symptoms as the disease progresses. Eventually canine distemper may attack the nervous system and your dog can suffer seizures and paralysis.
Canine Distemper Transmission
Canine distemper is an airborne virus, usually transmitted from the respiratory system of a sick animal to your dog. In other words, your dog needs to be in close contact with a sick animal to typically contract it, but it can also be passed from one animal to another via feces and urine. It’s not limited to dogs, either, but all members of the canine family and weasels can contract distemper and be carriers. Distemper does not affect cats in any way, though.
If you think your dog might have canine distemper, see your veterinarian right away. There is no magic bullet to treat a dog that is sick with distemper, but antibiotics can help. Your dog will need to be kept away from other dogs too.
Canine Distemper Vaccines
To ensure good dog health, the best treatment for distemper is avoiding it in the first place, and luckily, there are vaccines, such as the DHLP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus) that eliminate most of the threat of canine distemper. This is traditionally administered once a year. As with most diseases our puppies and dogs can get, prevention is easier than cure. Make sure your pets are vaccinated.