Canine Distemper in dogs – Symptoms, Cause, Treatments

 

Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus caused by the paramyxovirus. It is seen in dogs around the world, but it can also affect ferrets, racoons, skunks, grey foxes, and many other animals.

 

Symptoms of Canine Distemper

Canine distemper affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory, skin, immune, and central nervous systems. Symptoms can take up to 14 days to show up after exposure. Symptoms of Canine Distemper in dogs include a high rise in temperature 103 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (Diphasic fever), dry nose, congested eyes, occulonasal discharge, pneumonia, loss of appetite, vomition, abdominal pain, etc.

Nervous symptoms include restlessness, excitement, chumpy jaw, excessive salivation and convulsions, epilepsy, chorea (jerky movements of a group of muscles), muscle spasms in lips, cheeks, jaw, head, neck, and limb muscle.

Cutaneous symptoms like hyperkeratinization of footpads making them hard, the dog experiences difficultly in walking on hard objects leading to lameness.

Canine distemper may also cause brain inflammation and neurological symptoms, which is often confused with rabies. Neurological symptoms of canine distemper include:

At first, you may not notice symptoms of canine distemper, and it can be mistaken for other viruses and infections. Your dog can get a mild or severe case and may have symptoms that only last 10 days. However, neurological symptoms may be delayed and show up months after infection.

Causes of Canine Distemper

Canine distemper in dogs is caused by the paramyxovirus virus. Animals get infected from contact with infected urine, blood, saliva, or respiratory droplets. Of these, transmission usually happens through droplets. It can be spread through coughing and sneezing or contaminated food and water bowls.

Canine distemper can occur year round, but the virus is resistant to cold. The majority of cases in domestic dogs occur in the late fall and winter.

How dogs get canine distemper

Your dog can get canine distemper by being around other dogs or wild animals that have the virus. Puppies or older dogs that haven’t been vaccinated are most vulnerable. Dogs in shelters may also be vulnerable since their vaccinations may not be up to date.

 

How to recover from distemper

As soon as possible, isolate the dog from other healthy dogs if you have any. Immediate fluid therapy, B complex infusion, and vitamin C to boost immunity can help a lot. Timely treatment of neurological symptoms is a must. In any time if you feel some risk, then immediately contact with

 

Provide good care and comfort to your dog. The animal should be free from ecto and endoparasites. For speedy recovery, use Homeopathic Veterinary Medicine Drops STRESSZA 30ml. @ 20 drops two to three times a day for an adult dog.