Distemper is one of the most serious diseases your dog can get. However, it’s also one of the most preventable. Here are the facts that every dog owner needs to know about distemper.
In This Article
What Is Canine Distemper?
Canine distemper likely sounds familiar to you if your dog is up-to-date on their vaccinations. Veterinarians consider the distemper vaccine a core vaccination, along with the parvovirus, canine adenovirus, and rabies vaccines.
The disease is highly contagious and potentially lethal. A paramyxovirus causes distemper in dogs, and it’s closely related to the measles and rinderpest viruses. It causes severe illness in the host by attacking multiple body systems, resulting in a widespread infection that is difficult to treat.
How Does Canine Distemper Spread?
There are three ways dogs can get canine distemper:
- Direct contact with an infected animal or object
- Airborne exposure
- Through the placenta
Canine distemper spreads through direct contact or airborne exposure, much like the common cold in humans. When an infected dog or wild animal coughs, sneezes, or barks, they release aerosol droplets into the environment, infecting nearby animals and surfaces, like food and water bowls.
The good news is that the virus doesn’t last long in the environment and most disinfectants can destroy it. The bad news is that distemper-infected dogs can shed the virus for up to several months, putting dogs around them at risk.
Dogs aren’t the only animals that can get distemper. Wild animals like raccoons, foxes, wolves, coyotes, skunks, ferrets, and mink can also get distemper. As a result, an outbreak of distemper in the local wildlife population can put dogs at risk for catching the disease, even if they don’t come into contact with other dogs.
Bitches can also spread the virus through the placenta to their puppies, which is one of the reasons why it’s important to fully vaccinate any dog you plan to breed.
What Are the Symptoms of Canine Distemper?
Dogs with distemper experience a wide range of symptoms, depending on how advanced the disease is in their bodies. Once a dog becomes infected, the virus initially replicates in the lymphatic tissue of the respiratory tract before moving on to infect the rest of the dog’s lymphatic tissue, the respiratory tract, the GI tract, the urogenital epithelium, the central nervous system, and optic nerves. This results in two stages of symptoms:
Stage One
The first symptom of distemper in dogs is usually watery to pus-like discharge from their eyes, followed by fever, loss of appetite, and clear nasal discharge. Most dogs develop a fever approximately 3-to-6 days after being infected, but the initial symptoms depend on the severity of the case and how the patient reacts to it. In general, the symptoms associated with distemper in dogs during the first stages of infection are:
- Fever
- Clear nasal discharge
- Purulent eye discharge
- Lethargy
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Pustular dermatitis (rarely)
- Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
If a dog infected with distemper survives the acute stage of the illness, they may also develop hyperkeratosis of the paw pads and nose, a condition caused by excess keratin, which causes them to harden and enlarge. This uncomfortable symptom is why distemper is nicknamed “hard pad disease.”
One of the other risks associated with distemper in dogs is a secondary bacterial infection that attacks when the distemper virus compromises a dog’s immune system. Secondary bacterial infections can cause respiratory and GI symptoms, including:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Change in respiratory rate
- Pneumonia
Stage Two
Some dogs develop neurological signs as the disease progresses and attacks the central nervous system. These signs can be particularly concerning to dog owners.
- Head tilt
- Circling
- Partial or full paralysis
- Seizures
- Nystagmus (repetitive eye movements)
- Muscle twitching
- Convulsions with increased salivation and chewing motions
- Death
Distemper in dogs presents with some or all of these symptoms, depending on the severity of the case. Dogs that survive a distemper diagnosis usually have permanent and irreparable nervous system damage.
What Dogs Are Most at Risk for Distemper?
Distemper is a risk to all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies under 4 months old are particularly susceptible. If your dog meets these criteria and shows any symptoms of distemper, call your vet immediately.
Diagnosing Canine Distemper
Veterinarians diagnose distemper through a combination of clinical signs and diagnostic tests, or through a post-mortem necropsy. They may use a PCR test to determine if a dog is sick and, if they recover, if they’re still carrying the virus and can spread it to other dogs.
Another option is serological testing, which detects antibodies or antigens in a blood sample. If a dog has high antibody levels and a negative PCR test, that would indicate that they’re likely immune to infection.
Diagnosing distemper can be challenging because its symptoms often appear similar to those of other common diseases in dogs. A vet may also recommend doing blood work or chest X-rays to assess a dog’s overall health and determine if they have any secondary infections.
How to Treat Canine Distemper
There is no cure for canine distemper. Once diagnosed, care is purely supportive. Veterinarians can treat diarrhea, vomiting, and some neurological symptoms. They’ll also take steps to prevent dehydration and secondary infections, if possible. Most vets recommend that dogs be hospitalized and separated from other dogs to prevent the spread of infection.
The survival rate and length of infection depend on the strain of the virus and the strength of the dog’s immune system. Some cases resolve as quickly as 10 days, while some dogs may exhibit neurological symptoms for weeks or even months afterward.
Preventing Canine Distemper
Thankfully, canine distemper is entirely preventable. There are several things you can do to prevent distemper in dogs:
- Make sure your puppy gets the full series of distemper vaccinations
- Keep distemper vaccinations up-to-date throughout your dog’s life and avoid any gaps in vaccinations
- Keep your dog away from infected animals and wildlife
- Vaccinate pet ferrets for distemper
- Be careful socializing your unvaccinated puppy or dog, especially in areas where dogs congregate, like dog parks, classes, and doggy daycare
By taking preventative measures, you can significantly reduce your dog’s risk of infection. If you suspect your dog may be showing symptoms of distemper, call your veterinarian immediately, as early intervention is critical. While there is no cure for this condition, supportive treatment can improve recovery outcomes.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.