Canine Distemper is a common disease in dogs, and the mortality rate is also very high, so you should take preventive measures at ordinary times to avoid discovering the disease until it is too late!

Cause:

Commonly known as dog measles, it is a highly contagious disease in dogs caused by Morbillivirus. It is characterized by bidirectional fever, acute rhinitis, late development into tracheitis and other pneumonias, severe gastroenteritis and neurological symptoms. It mainly occurs in puppies and damages the dog's respiratory tract, digestive tract, skin and nervous system. Puppies that are not vaccinated or do not have sufficient antibodies are susceptible to highly contagious viral diseases.

Route of infection:

Infection through direct or indirect contact with the eyes and nasal secretions of infected dogs. Healthy dogs do not need direct contact with infected dogs to become infected, as canine distemper virus can be spread through the air or inanimate objects. The mortality rate of this disease is very high. The virus is present in the secretions of sick dogs and is transmitted through the air and contact

Symptoms:

Fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, coughing, sneezing, dry nose, runny nose, watery eyes, conjunctivitis and photophobia. The secretion from the eyes and nose changes from transparent watery to yellow sticky secretion, the soles of the feet become hard, and it is complicated by vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, difficulty breathing, and weight loss. Finally, the virus enters the nervous system, and the affected dog suffers from encephalitis and myelitis. Nervous symptoms such as instability and cramps may occur.

There is no specific medicine for this disease, and the course of the disease is about two weeks. If the patient survives without death, neurological symptoms will remain. Such as: movement disorder, involuntary shaking, head tilt. Because the early symptoms of canine distemper are similar to those of a severe cold, livestock owners are often unaware of it. In addition to respiratory problems, it may also be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea; it may even cause neurological disorders. The mortality rate for adult dogs is as high as over 60%, and for puppies it is even higher. The biggest characteristic of canine distemper virus is that it has an affinity for the central nervous system and will destroy nerve cells. The resulting clinical symptoms vary depending on the location where the virus invades, such as: convulsions, uncoordinated limbs, spinning in place, tremors, paralysis, etc. . Even if the affected dog is lucky enough to survive, the nervous system such as smell, hearing and vision will be permanently damaged. Partial and total paralysis are common.

Prevention:

Complete preventive injections allow dogs to produce sufficient immune antibodies to avoid infection. Usually, the first injection is given when the puppies are three to four weeks old, followed by an additional injection 3-4 weeks later, and another injection every 3-4 weeks. Thereafter, the injection is given once a year to maintain good resistance. Female dogs should receive an additional dose before breeding.