CANINE DISTEMPER DISEASE

Canine distemper disease is one of the most deadly diseases of dogs which is caused by a virus named canine distemper virus or CDV. Canine distemper virus belongs to the paramyxoviridae family of viruses. This is a single-stranded RNA virus which is only activated when enters the host body. It starts replicating inside the body tissues of the host animal.

Clinical Findings

In this deadly dog disease, fever occurs after 3 to 4 days of infection. During this mild fever, the dog becomes anorexic (loss of appetite). These canine distemper symptoms are very likely to be ignored by the dog’s owner. The fever subsides for the next several days. When the second fever occurs accompanied by nasal and ocular discharge, dogs become very much lethargic and anorexic. Digestive and Respiratory tract infections become prominent as the secondary bacterial infection takes charge. Pustular dermatitis may also be seen in canine distemper disease. Overall a very long illness leads to neurological signs. Some of the neurological canine distemper symptoms which may be seen are given below.

• Involuntary muscle tremors
• Convulsions
• Circling
• Head tilt
• Paralysis
• Generalised tremors

Dogs can show any of the above symptoms during disease. The intensity of the symptoms can be mild to severe. With time above mentioned symptoms become severe. The onset of neurological symptoms can take weeks even months.

Canine Distemper Symptoms

Dogs infected with canine distemper usually present with yellow to green coloured eye discharge. Which is accompanied by the following canine distemper symptoms.

• Nasal Discharge
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Anorexia (loss of appetite)
• Diarrhoea

Some dogs present to the veterinarian with a minor fever with continuous eye and nasal discharge. While there are some cases with no symptoms other than a minor cold, in this type of case it has become difficult for a doctor to diagnose canine distemper. Progressively, diseases have become easier to diagnose with intense and deadly canine distemper symptoms.

• Tremors
• Chewing motion of the jaw
• Seizures
• Partial or complete paralysis
• Pneumonia
• Severe vomiting and diarrhoea

Canine Distemper Diagnosis

What is the most difficult thing about this disease is that the characteristic symptoms do not appear in the dog until it is too late. Many other bacterial and systemic infections may be confused with canine distemper disease before the onset of characteristic canine distemper symptoms.

Mechanism of Canine Distemper Virus in Dogs

Canine distemper disease affects all the body systems of dogs. Puppies ranging from 3 to 6 months of age are most susceptible. The canine distemper virus can be transmitted through aerosols or from the secretions of the mouth and nose of an infected dog. It can also be transmitted from food items and water if contaminated with the body fluids of an infected animal.
The canine distemper virus, when it enters the body, grows towards the nervous system. First, it starts to replicate itself in the respiratory tract of the infected dog. When the virus enters the blood it starts to infect other body systems like the digestive system, respiratory system, urinary system and eventually the nervous system. As the virus destroys the lymphatic system of the infected dog, the immune system becomes weak and secondary infection causes the animal to make the situation worse. 
In adult dogs infected with canine distemper virus, the death ratio is less than 50%, but the death rate is 80% in puppies. This is because puppies already lack a fully developed immune system.

Canine Distemper Treatment

It is recommended to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible if you observe any of the above canine distemper symptoms in your pet. We are mentioning below a general canine distemper treatment for dogs.

• Broad spectrum antibiotics
• Balanced electrolytes solution
• Parenteral nutrition
• Analgesics and anti-convulsants
• Absolute nursing and care

No single and confirmed canine distemper treatment is available or successful in the case of this deadly disease. Different medicines are used at different stages of the disease. Many anti-viral agents gave promising results but these agents yet not very frequently used.
Unfortunately, treatment of the neurological stage of the disease is very unsuccessful in most of the cases. In mild neurological signs, the owner should take intensive care of his pet child. There are chances of recovery. But good nursing is very important in all these situations.

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Canine Distemper Prevention

One of the most simple and reliable sources of prevention of this fatal disease is to complete the canine distemper vaccine for your dog. With the virus, strains modify themselves and become more dangerous with time. You need to keep your dog’s vaccination status up to date. Canine distemper vaccine is commercially available and should be used according to the instructions of the professionals. Usually, dogs are revaccinated on an annual basis. However more importantly it depends upon the prevalence status of the canine distemper disease in your area.

Canine Distemper Prevalence

The canine distemper prevalence decreased in the recent past because of the availability of canine distemper vaccine. However canine distemper still has a prevalence in unvaccinated communities of dogs such as animal shelters. These unvaccinated communities of dogs become a great threat to the other dogs in that area. As the canine distemper disease is very contagious and its virus can travel through the droplets of the infected dogs.
Despite the best results of vaccines outbreaks of canine distemper virus still occur in different countries of the world. Which advocates the severity and risk which belongs to this fatal disease.

Frequent Asked Questions