The difference between canine distemper and colds: causes

Canine distemper is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by canine distemper virus. It is highly contagious and has a high fatality rate. Dog colds are generally canine influenza, a canine respiratory disease caused by the canine influenza virus. It spreads quickly, especially puppies, but it is easy to cure and does not have as high a fatality rate as canine distemper.

The difference between canine distemper and cold: symptoms

Canine distemper has an incubation period, usually 3 to 7 days, and the symptoms can be roughly divided into three types. The first type is the gastrointestinal type, in which the dog shows loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools and severe dehydration. The dog will have intermittent fever, which is not easy for the owner to detect; the second type is the respiratory type, in which the dog can have nasal discharge and eye mucus. , coughing, sneezing and other cold-like symptoms; the third type is the neurological type, which is common in dogs with generalized spasms. Although rare, the virus will directly affect the brain nerves, making it difficult to recover when the disease occurs.
One of the key points to distinguish it from a dog's cold is that the dog has repeated high fevers. If you find that the dog's high fever subsides and then starts to have a fever a few days later, you must take the dog to the hospital for a checkup immediately. There is also the fact that the dog's foot pads will harden. The owner can touch the dog's foot pads. If the soles of the feet feel hard and thick, they should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

The difference between canine distemper and colds: susceptible dogs

Canine distemper is more common in unimmunized puppies, because unimmunized puppies lack corresponding antibodies in their bodies and are therefore very susceptible. Dogs can usually get the first shot of vaccine 50 days after birth, and the shots are given continuously for three months. Adult dogs are given a shot of vaccine once a year to build up their immunity. Vaccines must be injected at a regular pet hospital and administered by professional medical staff.
Colds occur in both puppies and adult dogs. They mostly occur during periods of temperature changes and are caused by dogs catching cold. When the temperature changes greatly, the owner must remember to keep the dog warm, and can put an extra blanket in the doghouse. Owners should not let their dogs sleep directly on the ground, as their abdomen is very easy to catch cold.