What is canine distemper

Canine distemper is a highly contagious and fatal infectious disease in dogs caused by the canine distemper virus. Canine distemper spreads quickly and has a high mortality rate. It is one of the major diseases that seriously threatens the life and health of dogs. Dogs can be infected regardless of gender or age.

Canine distemper infection route

Canine distemper is mainly transmitted through contact and air. Therefore, contact with sick dogs and inhalation of droplets secreted by sick dogs are the main ways of contracting the disease. Canine distemper virus is present in large amounts in the respiratory secretions of sick dogs.

Canine distemper symptoms

The first symptom of canine distemper is an increase in body temperature, which lasts for 1-3 days. Then it subsides, much like the characteristics of recovery from a cold. But the temperature rises again after a few days, and the duration is uncertain. Tearing, redness of the conjunctiva, and eye secretions from liquid to mucopurulent may be seen. The nose is dry and nasal fluid flows out. It starts out as serous nasal fluid and then turns into purulent nasal fluid. At the beginning of the disease, there was a dry cough, which later turned into a wet cough and difficulty breathing. Vomiting, diarrhea, intussusception, and ultimately death from severe dehydration and weakness.

Methods for preventing and treating canine distemper

1. Regular vaccination. Puppies should be vaccinated for the first time at 6 weeks of age; for the second time at 8 weeks of age; for the third time at 10 weeks of age; and should still be vaccinated once a year in the future. The vaccines available are the six-combination vaccine and the five-combination vaccine currently on the market.
2. Once a sick dog with signs of canine distemper is found, the sick dog should be isolated immediately, and contact between the sick dog and healthy dogs is strictly prohibited.
3. Objects and toys used by sick dogs should be burned as much as possible, and the surrounding environment should be thoroughly disinfected with pyro-alkali, hypoxic sodium and 100 kinds of poisons.
4. For dogs that have not yet developed symptoms but may be infected and dogs that are threatened by the epidemic, immediately use canine distemper hyperimmune serum for emergency preventive injection.
5. If the disease is prevalent in the local area, it is strictly prohibited to bring in outside dogs, and take dogs out as little as possible, and do not allow dogs at home to come into contact with other dogs.