POLOKWANE – Few dog lovers know about the viral, often fatal, disease that affects dogs’ respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.

Polokwane Observer spoke to Arona Cremona, a veterinarian nurse at Pietersburg Vet Clinic about canine distemper.

“The virus that causes distemper in dogs causes serious illness by attacking multiple body systems.”

Cremona explains that distemper in dogs is fatal, and as a pet owner, you should ensure your dog is vaccinated against it.

Distemper in dogs presents in various ways, depending on how advanced the disease is. Once the dog becomes infected, the virus replicates in the lymphatic tissue of the respiratory tract before it moves on to infect the rest of the body.

Other areas that are infected include the dogs’ central nervous system, the respiratory tract, the lymphatic system and, the GI tract.

Signs are usually observed in two stages.

Stage one generally presents with visual, breathing and/or gastric signs, with some or all of the following:
• Fever
• Reduced appetite.
• Depression.
• Infected eye and nasal discharge.
• Coughing.
• Difficulty breathing (dyspnoea).
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhoea.
• Lethargy.

As the disease develops, some dogs develop neurological signs since the disease attacks the central nervous system.

Signs of stage two:
• Nasal and eye discharge.
• Head tilt.
• Circling and unable to follow a straight path.
• Partial or full paralysis.
• Seizures.
• Repetitive eye movements.
• Muscle twitching.
• Convulsions with increased salivation and chewing motions.
• Death.

Treatment:

“There is no cure for distemper, and positive cases require isolation. Diagnosis takes place through a combination of assessing clinical signs and performing diagnostic tests. There is no treatment for distemper, and euthanisation is usually suggested to prevent the dog from suffering. In all the years the practice has been running, we could never save a dog from distemper. The only way to prevent distemper is to euthanise.”

Canine distemper is mostly spread by respiratory discharges, like coughing or sneezing. When an infected dog or wild animal coughs, sneezes, or even barks, aerosol droplets are released into the environment, infecting nearby animals and surfaces, like food and water bowls.

The survival rate and length of infection depend on the strain of the virus and the strength of the dog’s immune system.

All dogs are at risk of canine distemper. A puppy is only safe two weeks after its last vaccination at 14 weeks. It is advised to keep it clear of areas where infection can possibly occur.