Canine Distemper: How To Deal With It

Distemper is a very common infectious disease among dogs, as well as being one of the deadliest. It is caused by a virus and, in addition to the dog, it attacks wolves and foxes, some big cats, and animals such as weasels and raccoons. Distemper in dogs can be cured if it is detected and treated at a not very advanced stage. 

Mode of contagion

Distemper is contracted by air. Contagion can occur when a healthy dog ​​comes into contact with virus particles that are in the air, therefore near a sick animal . The vaccine does not guarantee that the dog will not get sick with distemper, but it reduces the chances considerably. Cases of distemper occur more frequently in weaned puppies under 6 months, however it can be contracted at any time in the dog’s life.

Normally for puppies that are still nursing, there is less chance of contracting the disease if the mother has been vaccinated, because they are immunized through the mother’s milk.

Symptomatology

One of the main problems in treating this disease is that the symptoms are not alarming at first. Distemper initially manifests with white secretions in the eyes that are generally confused with the normal secretions we are used to seeing on the sides of our dog’s eyes. Subsequently the dog will develop symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting and the characteristic nasal discharge which can be white or pink depending on how advanced the state of the disease is.

In the most advanced stage, severe damage to the nervous system occurs , which can generate partial and total spasms or paralysis. Unfortunately, precisely because the owners notice the disease very late, most dogs that contract distemper die or suffer major damage depending on the severity with which the nervous system is affected.

Prevention

There is currently a vaccine against this virus that is applied in two doses, two weeks apart, to puppies older than eight weeks. This is the only way to prevent distemper, but it is not 100% safe. The vaccine should be applied to healthy and deparasitic puppies. It is recommended to repeat the vaccine once a year.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for distemper once it has manifested on a dog. Basically, when diagnosing the disease, one proceeds to treat the symptoms individually and to prevent the animal from becoming dehydrated;   it also strengthens your immune system. On many occasions, especially when the nervous system is seriously compromised, the vet will recommend euthanasia to avoid further suffering to the dog.

Caring for a dog with distemper

Once diagnosed by the vet, you need to keep in mind that, however severe the disease may be,  the dog can get better with proper care. Obviously these treatments consist in an attempt to decrease the ailments caused by distemper and to improve the quality of life of the dog.

One thing you need to monitor frequently is your fluid consumption to avoid dehydration. Reduced fluid consumption is one of the main symptoms of the disease. Due to the fact that this attacks the nervous system, the dog may have difficulty in carrying out even the most basic activities, such as drinking water, so you must be ready to take care of this need in case of need. Despite what you can read around, it is not advisable to give your dog to drink with a syringe, because due to his weakness he could get to bronchoaspirate the water and make the situation worse, better take him to the vet to get him hydrated via intravenous.

In addition, you should try to include in his diet only foods rich in nutrients and that are easy to digest, it may also help to liquefy his food. Vitamins are usually prescribed to dogs to make up for those that they lose due to their lack of appetite and to strengthen their immune system, ask your vet what options are suitable for your dog. You must also pay attention to antibiotics, sometimes they can generate allergies or do not improve the animal’s symptoms.