Canine Distemper, to this date, remains one of the most lethal disease. One reason being its undetectability at the early stages of infection, another being the virus is air borne i.e. it is transmitted mainly by respiratory secretions (coughing and sneezing). A dog’s sneeze can spread respiratory particulates up to 25 feet, making the risk of exposure high ,hence, it spreads from an infected animal to other animals via air, usually resulting in severe neurological disorders and even death in 50% of the cases. Healthy adult dogs with a good immune system mostly recover from this disease with minimal to no damage at all as their immunity kicks in at the starting stage itself hence this virus usually goes unnoticed. But even a pet that is not showing any signs of infection can still spread the disease for 2 to 3 months of getting the virus itself. Young puppies mostly do not get to make through this rough disease.

Canine distemper virus is a highly contagious, often fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and nervous system of dogs in all life stages. It’s commonly spread between dogs, ferrets, and infected wildlife—foxes, wolves, raccoons, skunks, and coyotes. Distemper in dogs can be prevented through a core vaccination series that is performed by a licensed veterinarian commonly “DHPP” or “DAPP”.

Age is not a big factor in contracting this disease however, it is a big factor in determining the chances of the animal surviving Distemper.

Early signs to look for:

  • Eyes and nose always secreting wet, pus like substance
  • fever
  • ‘cough
  • reverse sneezing
  • reduced apatite
  • excessive salivation

Second stage signs:

  • dry nose and foot pads
  • Shivering jaw
  • reduced sense of smell
  • generalized tremors
  • seizures
  • pneumonia
  • Severe vomiting
  • Diarrhea

When the shiver of the jaw turns into violent fits, that’s usually when the disease has entered into its advance stage and only a very healthy animal can survive this bout. Some do make it through but are usually left with life-long neurological disorders like constantly shivering jaw, occasional fits, permanent loss of smelling sense or some permanent problem with the body muscles. Their quality of life gets decreased a lot.

To prevent Distemper in dogs, proper vaccination for distemper is crucial because it’s the only way to prevent this serious disease. Due to the fragile nature of the vaccine, it’s important that a veterinarian perform these vaccinations to ensure quality control, safe handling, and proper administration.

There can be certain side-effects to the vaccine in some cases. Vaccines mildly stimulate the immune system in order to work. The majority of dogs show no side effects from vaccination, but possible side effects of the distemper shot in dogs could range from soreness to mild fever. In some cases, allergic reactions like facial swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and fever can occur.