Back in 2021 I wrote about distemper, but it is again worth discussing since the Tehama County Animal Care Center has seen an uptick in the disease in the puppies that are being admitted. If you think your canine companion cannot contract canine distemper because the virus is not in Tehama County, I urge you to think again.
It is one of the most highly contagious viral diseases of dogs, and its incidence has increased in the past decades. In fact, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (https://wildlife.ca.gov/ ) has reported an unusually high number of canine distemper virus (CDV) cases in wildlife populations throughout the state. Distemper outbreaks in wildlife in a specific area also pose an increased risk for distemper in dogs.
The virus drastically weakens a dog’s immune system. It makes it difficult for him to fight off other types of infection, such as the equally devastating parvovirus, which TCACC has also seen this year. Distemper is often fatal and, although there is no cure for it, the most important fact to remember is that it is easily preventable through vaccination!
While the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) is not transmissible to humans, it can be spread by them if a person has it on their hands or clothing and then contacts an at-risk dog. In addition, shared food and water bowls and equipment, such as grooming tools, can transmit CDV. Puppies and dogs usually become infected from the airborne dispersal of the virus through the sneezing and coughing of an infected animal, so the chance for contracting CDV increases when the risk of exposure is high.
Because the CDV also affects wildlife populations, potential contact between wild animals and domestic dogs can facilitate the spread of the virus. The disease is found in dogs, ferrets, coyotes, wolves, foxes, skunks and the ever-present raccoon. Infected dogs can shed the virus for months, and mother dogs can pass it through the placenta to their puppies. Puppies younger than four months old, and dogs that have not been vaccinated, are easy targets to contract this deadly disease.
Typically, symptoms appear 7-14 days after the virus infects the animal but may take up to 6 weeks. Since it is a multifaceted disease, it targets various organ systems simultaneously, thus adding to its severity.
Early signs include fever, loss of appetite, and clear-to-green nasal and eye discharge. These signs can come and go, lasting only a few days at a time. As the disease progresses, symptoms become more serious and extensive. CDV can cause coughing, breathing difficulties, vomiting and diarrhea, and blindness.
As the virus attacks the nervous system, dogs can show a progressive deterioration of both motor skills and mental abilities. Rhythmic muscle twitching can become so extensive that it totally disables the unfortunate pet. Partial and complete paralysis and seizures can also become factors as the disease progresses in severity. These seizures are frequently called “chewing gum fits.” As the name implies, it will look as if the dog is “chewing gum.” The virus may also cause thickening and hardening of the pads of the feet, earning the CDV the nickname “hard pad disease.” Infections without symptoms are common, and dogs may spread the virus for weeks without showing any clinical signs. In addition, many dogs can also disperse the infecting virus for as long as 4 months after recovery. In dogs or animals with weak immune systems, such as puppies, death may result two to five weeks after the initial infection.
To diagnose the disease, your veterinarian will perform a physical exam and take the dog’s history, including vaccination status. He will also order antibody tests to confirm exposure and resistance, and various blood tests to evaluate organ function, as well as to rule out any infection, chemical imbalances or other diseases.
In addition, while there is no cure for the disease, the resultant treatment for CDV will consist of supportive care to prevent secondary infections with the administration of antibiotics, to combat dehydration with fluid administration, and to control vomiting, diarrhea and neurologic symptoms with the administration of varied, multiple medications. The testing and the treatment are extremely expensive. Unfortunately, the overall prognosis for recovery is poor, with over 50 percent of the dogs that exhibit severe symptoms dying, despite intensive supportive care.
Effective distemper vaccination has been available since the 1950s and, prior to widespread vaccination, distemper would wipe out the entire pet dog population in towns. The distemper vaccine is one of the most rapidly protective vaccines available in veterinary medicine. Within hours of administering the vaccination, meaningful protection can transpire, with complete protection occurring within days. For something so effective and relatively inexpensive when weighed against the cost, both monetarily and emotionally, of trying to save a canine companion, it is ridiculous to elect not to vaccinate, yet many do.
In addition to vaccinating your pet, you can keep pet food and water indoors to help prevent the spread of distemper. Outdoor feeding and drinking sources can attract infected animals, who contaminate the bowls, transferring the virus to other animals.
Lastly, distemper can appear similar to rabies; therefore, you must be careful not to assume it is distemper.
