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Puppy Distemper"Puppy Distemper is preventable with early vaccination. Treatment options are limited to helping your dog cope with the symptoms of this dangerous canine disease. " Distemper in puppies is caused by a paramyxovirus, a virus that is very similar to the virus that causes measles in humans. Dogs of all ages can be infected by distemper, but puppies six months old and younger are most likely to have the disease. You should protect your puppy from distemper by having him vaccinated when he is about six weeks old. Older dogs should be vaccinated every year. Symptoms for Distemper in PuppiesThere are many puppy distemper symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms include:* Thickened foot pads * Thickened pad on the nose * Reddened eyes * Discharge from the eyes * Blindness may occur in severe cases * Cough * Runny nose * Fever * Vomiting and diarrhea * Loss of appetite * Weight loss * Loss of energy * Muscle tremors * Seizures * Paralysis In mild cases, symptoms may not easily be recognized as distemper. Early signs of distemper can resemble other diseases, such as parvo disease. Distemper in Puppies DiagnosisDiagnosing puppy distemper can be a bit tricky. It is usually done with a blood test. There are a couple different blood tests that can be used to diagnose puppy distemper.The first test looks for antibodies that have developed in response to the disease. If your puppy has already been vaccinated for distemper, though, these antibodies will be present regardless of whether your puppy has distemper or not. The second type of blood test looks for distemper by mixing florescent antibodies with the blood to see if they attach to distemper virus. If they do, the blood will glow. This test can give negative results even if your puppy does have distemper, though, because sometimes the virus “hides” in the cells and is not present in the blood itself. Another test for distemper involves looking for the virus in the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (cerebral spinal fluid). This is an expensive test and can be dangerous to perform. Your vet may not recommend it. If tests do not show that your puppy has distemper but he has all the symptoms and other illnesses are ruled out, your vet may diagnose distemper regardless of what the tests say. Puppy Distemper TreatmentThere is no cure for distemper in puppies. About 75% of all dogs who get distemper die from it. Some do recover, but they may have lasting problems, such as blindness, paralysis, and seizure disorders.Treatment involves managing the symptoms. Secondary bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. If your puppy is vomiting or has diarrhea and becomes dehydrated, IV fluids may be needed. If your puppy has seizures, anti-convulsive medication will be prescribed. Other symptoms can be treated, but there is no medication to treat the distemper itself.
SourcesSources: www.thepetcenter.comDistemper Foster, Race DVM, and Smith, Marty DVM Canine Distemper: Current Status Appel, M. and Summers, B. From Puppy Distemper to More On Canine Distemper To Dog Health Guide Home
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