Canine distemper is a contagious and fatal disease. The disease affects most part of the human body. It’s the goal of many dog owners to ensure that their dogs are protected from canine distemper. Canine distemper is a disease that affects the respiratory, central nervous and gastrointestinal systems. The disease is more fatal when it attacks young puppies unlike adult’s dogs.
Symptoms of canine distemper disease
Macrophages carry the virus to the nearby lymph nodes where the virus begins to replicate. By six days, the virus is injected into the blood where it spreads to other body parts.
Early symptoms of the virus include loss of appetite, fever, eye inflammation which lasts for a period of two days. As the disease progress, the symptoms become more noticeable. Gastrointestinal symptoms include conjuctivis, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, rhinitis and pneumonia.
With secondary bacterial infections, the symptoms become more noticeable. The symptoms in dogs are variable and progressive. Death is caused by neurological complications such as depressions, paralysis, seizures and Lack of effective mental and motor skills.
Eye distemper symptoms
Many dogs will experience eye symptoms in form of inflammation of the eye. There will be inflammation the conjunctiva and cornea. Symptoms may also occur through the development of lesions on the retina. In severe cases, there can be inflammation of the optic nerves which can lead to blindness
Transmission of dog distemper disease
The CDV virus is transmitted through contact with nasal fluid, urine and feces from an infected animal one can contact the disease. In most scenarios the disease is transmitted through inhaling of air particles and breathing. The disease can be transmitted to other animals too.
The virus is passed when a dog is in contact with urine, blood or saliva. Sneezing, sharing of food and coughing are the most possible ways used in the transmission of the disease. While a dog will be in the recovery phase of the disease, the dog will shed the virus for several weeks. With full treatment, the dog cannot infect others
It is a good contingency plan to visit a vet officer immediately you suspect there is a transmission of the virus to your dog. The virus spreads at an increasing rate and treatment at its infant stage will yield excellent results for your dog
Diagnosis of canine disempter
There are canine distemper test that identify if your dog has been infected with the disease. A factor to note is that the results at many times do not reflect the whole picture. Your veterinary officer will need to investigate other features and your dog history. Most at times the positive result confirms an infection but some dogs test negative yet they are infected.
Certain types of dogs will be prone to canine distemper than others. Mostly puppies and adolescent dogs that have not been vaccinated, succumb to the disease quite easily. Puppies receive serious infections than adolescent dogs. Puppies which are below seven weeks andare born from non-vaccinated mothers easily infected. The infected puppies weaken within a short duration.
The weakening of the puppies is caused when the virus travels to the brain, leading to seizures, trembling and shaking. At this time if the dog immune system is weak, there will develop other complications like pneumonia.
Polymerase chain test can be used to diagnose canine distemper disease. The tests are performed on samples of fluid, blood and urine. Besides the polymerase test, skin biopsies can be checked for canine distemper. The examined bodies will show the characteristics of canine distemper inclusion bodies
With increase in technology, there is the development of excellent vaccines which have little side effects to your dog.
Prevention of canine distemper
The first step is to ensure that your dog has finished its vaccination series. Take the responsibility and walk your favorite buddy to receive required treatment. Mostly first dog vaccination is diagnosed within a period of eight weeks of age
Restrain your dog from visiting canine distemper endemic areas until your dog has completed vaccination. Successive pup’s immunization with canine distemper depends on the rate at which there will be interference by potential material antibody. Most pups are vaccinated with MLV vaccine when they are 6 weeks older. The vaccination is administered within a 3 to 4 week interval up to the time when the dog will be 16 year old.
Prevention of the canine distemper disease can be achieved through taking your dog for distemper short. The short is a combination of different types of vaccines.
Types of distemper vaccination
The vaccines are availed in the traditional but live format. The actual distemper virus is normally made to induce immune response minus illness in dogs. Beside the traditional live format, the recombination format; there is a non-dangerous virus which has the role of carrying the immune response to the distemper virus.
Between the two modes of vaccination, the recombinant is generally preferred over traditional. With the recombinant format it is impossible for distemper encephalitis to occur due to vaccination.
Treatment of the dog distemper disease
Currently, there is no given treatment for the disease. You will be required to give supportive care for different symptoms. The treatment measures are supportive and their main aim is to limit the secondary bacteria infection, maintain fluid balance.
Good nursing care will entail the administration of broad spectrum antibiotics, proper parental nutrition, and maintaining a balanced electrolyte solution. Treating neurological manifestation of distemper is a good measure to treat the canine distemper disease. It’s quite unfortunate that manifestation of the idea have been unsuccessful.
As a dog owner you should be take good care of your dog. Provide prompt aggressive care to your dog since the care will increase the chances of your dog healing completely. Your dog can recover from multi systematic manifestation among other cases of canine distemper.
In extreme situations some neurological signs may persist even after the respiratory system have been resolved. It’s a trend that most dogs with vaccine induced forms may respond positively to immunosuppressive therapy.
You should have clear knowledge about Lyme Disease in Dogs.