Canine Distemper后遗症: Symptoms and Effects

Section 1: What is Canine Distemper?

Canine distemper, caused by the canine distemper virus, is a highly contagious disease with a mortality rate exceeding 80%. The initial symptoms include a high fever ranging from 39.5 to 41 degrees Celsius, decreased appetite, disorientation, excessive discharge from the eyes and nose, sneezing, and diarrhea. Within 2 to 14 days, the dog may experience a recurrence of high fever, coughing, and the presence of purulent nasal discharge and eye mucus, indicating the middle stage of the disease. Concurrently, secondary gastrointestinal issues may arise, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. In the later stages, dogs may exhibit typical neurological symptoms, such as a poor mood, constant drowsiness, and fatigue, along with frothing at the mouth and seizures, making recovery difficult.

Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease, and some affected dogs may even develop hyperkeratosis. The disease often leads to complications such as parvovirus, canine hepatitis, and pneumonia, which is why the mortality rate is so high. The disease may initially present with symptoms similar to a fever, making it easy for owners to overlook. Dogs may exhibit conjunctivitis, dry cough, which then progresses to wet cough, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, intussusception, and ultimately die due to severe dehydration.

The incidence of canine distemper peaks from October to the following April, particularly in densely populated areas, residential complexes, and kennels. Once a dog is infected, it is difficult for other dogs to avoid infection unless they are kept in complete isolation. Dogs that recover from the disease can develop lifelong immunity.

Section 2: Symptoms and Sequelae of Canine Distemper

The incubation period can last from 3 to 9 days. The symptoms vary depending on the virulence of the virus, environmental conditions, age, and the dog's immune status. Within one to three days, the dog may experience a rise in body temperature, which then subsides, resembling a recovered cold. However, after a few days, the fever may return, with varying durations. Dogs may also exhibit excessive tearing, red and swollen conjunctivae, and a change in eye discharge from liquid to purulent. Dogs may also have purulent nasal discharge. In the early stages, dogs may have a dry cough, which then progresses to a wet cough, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, and may ultimately suffer from severe dehydration and death.

Neurological symptoms of canine distemper often occur around 10 days after the initial symptoms. Clinical cases of hyperkeratosis on the paw pads and nose are often associated with neurological symptoms. Since the virus affects different parts of the central nervous system, the symptoms may vary. In the brain tissue, the virus can cause seizures, dizziness, abnormal standing posture, unsteady gait, ataxia, and periodic twitching of the masticatory muscles and limbs, with a poor prognosis for these neurological symptoms.

Canine distemper virus can cause eye damage in dogs, such as conjunctivitis and keratitis. Around 15 days after the onset of the disease, dogs may develop keratitis, leukoma, and in severe cases, corneal ulceration and perforation, potentially leading to blindness. The mortality rate in puppies is very high, reaching 8090%. There is also a possibility of concurrent diseases such as pneumonia, enteritis, and intussusception.

Once characteristic symptoms of canine distemper appear, the prognosis is generally poor, especially for dogs without immunity. Although symptomatic treatment is provided, the progression of the disease is difficult to control, and most dogs die due to neurological symptoms and exhaustion. Dogs that do not fully recover may leave varying degrees of sequelae.

Section 3: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment of Canine Distemper Virus

Canine distemper is characterized by persistent fever, leukopenia, conjunctivitis, bronchitis, catarrhal pneumonia, gastroenteritis, dermatitis, and neurological symptoms. Some dogs may exhibit hyperkeratosis.

Young dogs under 2 years of age are rarely affected due to the presence of maternal antibodies. However, the incidence rate is higher in puppies aged 2 to 6 years, and it gradually decreases with age, with fewer infections in dogs over 2 years old. The course of the disease lasts for 1 to 2 months in most cases, except for a few acute cases. Recovered dogs can develop lifelong immunity, and infected dogs are the primary source of transmission.

Canine distemper monoclonal antibody serum is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly in the early stages of the disease, in conjunction with Xian'an Hongbei's Qingre Jiebiao injection for clearing heat and resolving exterior symptoms. Yanjunke injection and Chongke injection are used for preventing infection, while the immune globulin injection is used to enhance immunity. These are classic formulas used by Xian'an Hongbei for treating canine distemper.

Important Reminder: Click on "Canine Distemper Virus Infection Source" to learn more about canine distemper.