Infectious Disease: Distemper

Distemper

This potentially fatal disease is caused by a virus.  Distemper is highly contagious and is usually transmitted through contact with mucous and watery secretions discharged from the eyes and noses of infected dogs as well as through contact with their urine or fecal matter.  The virus may also be airborne or carried on inanimate objects such as shoes.  A healthy dog can contract distemper without ever coming in physical contact with an infected animal.

A dog with distemper appears to have a bad cold.  He may sneeze and have a runny nose and runny eyes.  Other signs to watch for are squinting, weight loss, coughing, vomiting and diarrhea.  A dog with distemper is usually listless and has a diminshed appetite.  As distemper progresses, it can attack the nervous system, causing a dog to become partially or completely paralyzed.  The dog may twitch or have seizures.

Distemper is spread mainly from sick to susceptible dogs.  Puppies and young adult dogs are most susceptible to infection by the distemper virus, but the disease also infrequently strikes older dogs.  Most cases of distemper occur in puppies 8 to 16 weeks old.  Distemper is more severe in younger pups.

Distemper is not always easy to diagnose.  Lab tests such as blood chemistry and blood cell counts aren't of much value in pinning down distemper.  The veterinarian may need to run more sophisticated tests to determine whether the virus is present.  Because the signs of distemper can be varied, treatment is often delayed.  To be on the safe side, take any sick young dog to the veterinarian for a definite diagnosis.

The only treatment for the distemper virus is good supportive care and control of neurological symptoms such as seizures.  Nursing care involves keeping the eyes and nose dry and encouraging the dog to eat and drink.  Dogs who survive the initial infection may develop retinal damage, corneal discoloration, or extreme hardness of the nose leather or foot pads.