Frequently Asked Questions About Canine Distemper

If you've just adopted your first dog, you may not know much about the various communicable diseases that affect man's best friend, including a disease known as canine distemper. This viral infection can cause alarming symptoms and serious problems affecting multiple physical systems, requiring owners to take preventative measures.

As a loving and responsible pet owner, understand the basic aspects of canine distemper, from risk factors and trouble signs to medical responses. Use the answers to these frequently asked canine distemper questions as a springboard for a consultation with your veterinarian.

What Causes Canine Distemper?

The canine distemper virus doesn't restrict its activity to canines. This infection spreads easily among many kinds of mammals, both wild and domesticated. Ferrets, skunks, and other wild animals can transmit the virus to dogs, and dogs can transmit it to each other, through nothing more than a cough or sneeze.

Animals who share food and water receptacles can transmit the canine distemper virus. Dogs that are pregnant and infected with the virus may even transmit the disease to their puppies before birth.

Which Dogs Face an Elevated Risk for Canine Distemper?

Any dog can catch canine distemper, but some dogs may face an elevated risk for the disease. First and foremost, any puppy too young to receive a distemper vaccination will remain at risk until he or she can get the necessary shots. Older unvaccinated dogs also face a greater risk than younger unvaccinated adults.

Environment can play a role in your dog's overall canine distemper risk. Because so many common wild animals can carry the virus, any dog that spends significant time in the great (unfenced) outdoors may run the risk of bumping into a diseased skunk, raccoon, or other mammal.

What Symptoms May Indicate Distemper in Your Dog?

Canine distemper can create many symptoms, some of which resemble those of other, less dangerous illnesses. Early symptoms commonly include coughing, vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, and fluid discharge from the eyes and nose. These symptoms may give you the impression that your dog simply has a cold. 

Later symptoms can help to confirm canine distemper in your dog. Watch for tremors, diarrhea, seizures, drooling, muscle spasms, head tilt, foot pad or nose crusting, and signs of respiratory complications such as pneumonia. If your pet displays these symptoms, bring him or her to a veterinarian right away for diagnosis and treatment.

How Do Veterinarians Deal With Canine Distemper?

Your veterinarian may need to perform multiple diagnostic tests to distinguish your dog's symptoms from those of viral diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, viral hepatitis, toxin exposure, and other lookalike problems. These tests may involve bone marrow samples, urine samples, and swabs of your dog's mucous membranes.

No outright cure for canine distemper currently exists. However, once your veterinarian has confirmed a case of canine distemper, your dog may benefit from numerous supportive care treatment measures. Options may include IV fluid replacement or nutrition, fever reducers, pain relievers, antibiotics, and anti-seizure drugs.

How Can You Protect Your Dog Against Canine Distemper?

Timely vaccination remains the most important strategy for preventing canine distemper in dogs. Veterinarians routinely administer multi-stage vaccinations in puppies every several weeks as part of every dog's recommended core vaccination schedule. (Remember to schedule recommended booster shots.)

If your puppy can't receive the distemper vaccination yet, keep him or her indoors and separated from any infected pets in your household, with his or her own separate food and water bowls. Avoid social environments such as pet boarding and doggie day care facilities until your pet enjoys full protection from the vaccination.

Your first step in safeguarding your dog against canine distemper should involve a visit to Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach. We offer vaccinations against distemper and other dangerous diseases, along with treatment for dogs with distemper and ongoing advice for owners. Contact our vet clinic today.