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Standard Poodles and Canine Distemper
What You Need to Know About Canine Distemper The Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is a highly contagious disease that affects many parts of a dog’s body, including their respiratory and central nervous systems, as well as their gastrointestinal tracts. Distemper infects the animal by attacking their mucous membranes, beginning in their respiratory tracts, and then moving through the gastrointestinal system. The virus itself is very closely related to the virus that causes measles in humans, and at one time, puppies were once immunized using the measles vaccine. What are the possible causes and how is it spread? Distemper is usually spread through airborne exposure from an infected animal as the virus is found in respiratory secretions. CDV may also infect other wild animals such as foxes, coyotes, wolves, skunks, ferrets, and raccoons. The virus enters the body via the nose or the mouth as the dog breathes, and after a latent period of approximately 10 to 14 days, the virus replicates itself and spreads throughout the body offering no visible signs of infection yet. Once the virus is in the respiratory system, it moves to the lymphatic system by way of the lymph nodes in the neck infecting all of lymphatic tissue within five days. By the ninth day, the virus has infected the blood where it can then move on to the gastrointestinal tract, and then the central nervous system. Luckily, cases of the disease are far less common today thanks to effective vaccines. What type of dogs are most at risk? Any dog is at risk of contracting distemper if they aren’t properly immunized. However, puppies younger than 16 weeks or dogs that have never been vaccinated are particularly susceptible. Rescue dogs or puppies in shelters or pet stores may have incomplete vaccines, or none at all, also leaving them vulnerable to getting and transmitting the disease. What are the symptoms of distemper? The first sign of distemper is usually a watery discharge from the eye that may appear pus-like, followed by a nasal discharge, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Canine distemper was once referred to as the “hard pad disease” due to some cases causing the pads of the paws to harden. Some other signs and symptoms of canine distemper include:
A veterinarian will be able to diagnose a case of canine distemper based on clinical appearance and the results of certain laboratory tests. Approximately 50% of all cases of the disease are fatal in adult dogs, and roughly 80% of puppies will succumb to the virus. Death usually results from damage to the nervous system which ultimately causes serious complications such as seizures. What are the treatment options? Currently there is no medication that will kill the virus in infected dogs, so treatment focuses on preventing the formation of a secondary infection and to control the symptoms caused by the virus. Treatment for canine distemper includes fluid therapy to prevent dehydration, and medication to control diarrhea, vomiting, and any neurological symptoms that may occur. An infected dog or puppy should be kept very warm while receiving gentle care and always be separated from any other dogs. When should I call the veterinarian? Canine distemper is such a serious and contagious disease that potentially causes irreparable damage that any signs of illness in your dog or puppy should be reported immediately to their veterinarian. Be sure to notify your dog’s vet if they show any of the following signs:
Having your puppy or dog immunized against the CDV is the best way to protect them from this potentially deadly disease. If your dog hasn’t had a complete set of vaccinations yet, it’s imperative to keep them away from all other dogs, or areas where dogs congregate such as parks or at the groomers, and away from any type of wildlife. Very young puppies are particularly at risk for contracting the virus as the antibodies they receive from their mother’s milk may wear off before their own immune systems are mature enough to protect them. Another concern for puppies is that the natural immunity provided by the mother may actually prevent the puppy from responding to the vaccination, so they may still be at risk during this time even if they have been properly vaccinated.
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