Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper Latest News

A tigress being treated for symptoms of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infection died in the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh recently.

About Canine Distemper

• It is a contagious and serious disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV).
• The virus attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs and has a very high mortality rate.
• All dogs are at risk of canine distemper. Those at particular risk include puppies younger than four months and dogs that have not been vaccinated against CDV.
• In addition to dogs, canine distemper virus can infect ferrets as well as a wide range of other mammals, especially carnivores.  

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Canine Distemper Transmission

• CDV spreads primarily through direct contact with respiratory secretions like saliva, nasal discharge, and sneezing. 
• It can also be transmitted indirectly via contaminated surfaces, objects, or shared food and water bowls. 
• The virus does not last long in the environment and can be destroyed by most disinfectants. 
• However, infected dogs can shed the virus for weeks, even before they show symptoms. 
• Once a dog is infected, the virus quickly spreads throughout the entire body and significantly weakens the immune system, leaving them susceptible to secondary infections.

Canine distemper Symptoms

• Early canine distemper symptoms include: 
  • mucous in the eyes and discharge from the nose
  • a lack of appetite
  • coughing
  • pneumonia
  • fever (although this can come and go and is hard to detect)
• At this stage, some dogs’ immune systems can fight the virus. 
• But in others, after a few weeks from the first symptoms, the central nervous system and other body systems can be affected. 
• As the infection spreads through the body, it goes on to cause:
  • vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • thickened paw pads and thickened skin on the nose
  • seizures (ranging from tremors of the jaw to full body convulsions)
  • twitching
  • limb weakness
  • muscle stiffness
  • imbalance

Canine Distemper Treatment

• There is no cure, and no antiviral drugs have been approved to combat the infection. 
• The best way to prevent canine distemper is through vaccination.

News: TP