Under normal circumstances, the incubation period of canine distemper is about 7 to 14 days. In some dogs, the incubation period will be longer or shorter due to other factors. So how long is the incubation period for canine distemper in dogs?

Keeshond

The incubation period of canine distemper is 3 to 6 days (the longest is 17 to 21 days), and the course of the disease is about one month. The mortality rate of this disease is 30% to 80%, and the mortality rate is even higher when secondary infection occurs. The incidence rate is related to age: 20% under 2 months old, 70% between 2 and 12 months old, and over 2 years old, the incidence rate decreases to 5% between 5 and 10 years old. Dogs that recover from the disease will be immune for life. The disease mainly occurs in winter and spring, with an epidemic every three years.

The early symptoms of canine distemper mainly include cold symptoms and enteritis symptoms. Sneezing, runny nose, cough, fever, less food, mild diarrhea. After 2 to 4 days of treatment, the symptoms were basically eliminated and the food intake returned to normal, but the food intake speed slowed down, the spirit was poor, inactive, and the nose was dry. Symptoms turn into mid-term in 7 to 14 days. Second rise in body temperature, loss of appetite, serous nasal discharge, cough, rapid breathing, thoracoabdominal breathing, bulbar conjunctival flushing, eyelid redness, swelling, moisture or erosion. In the later stage, the body temperature is normal or mild fever (body temperature 38.5 to 39.5°C), cough, purulent nasal discharge, eyelid erosion, eyes half-open and half-closed, eyes become smaller, weight loss, and a tendency to lie down and move around. Eat less, be picky about food, or go on a hunger strike, and have loose stools. Characteristic symptoms such as thickened toe pads, skin papules (in some cases, rice-sized red papules appear on the skin of the lower abdomen and medial thigh), and neurological symptoms.

The incubation time of canine distemper is long, so once there are symptoms of onset, it means that the dog has been infected with this disease for a period of time. The initial symptoms of the disease are similar to those of a cold, so it is best when the dog develops cold symptoms. Pay more attention, especially to puppies. Although the cure rate of canine distemper is relatively low, it can be treated, so owners should not give up easily.