Canine Distemper Symptoms & Treatment: A Comprehensive

Canine Distemper Transmission:

The primary sources of canine distemper (CD) are infected dogs and carriers. The virus is shed through various bodily fluids, including tears, nasal secretions, saliva, urine, and feces. Even after recovery, dogs can continue to excrete the virus for an extended period. The disease spreads primarily via respiratory and digestive routes, with the virus transmitted through droplets, contaminated food, or unsanitary medical equipment. It can infect through the conjunctiva, mouth, nasal passages, and mucous membranes of the vagina and rectum. CD survivors develop lifelong immunity.

Canine Distemper Symptoms:

The incubation period for CD typically ranges from 3 to 6 days (up to 30 to 60 days in exotic animals). Symptoms include:

1. Biphasic Fever: Dogs experience high temperatures around 40°C, which last for 8 to 18 hours. After a 1 to 2day period without fever or with lowgrade fever, the dog's spirits and appetite may improve temporarily. However, the temperature then spikes again to around 40°C and can remain high for several days.

2. Lethargy, loss of appetite, coughing, difficulty breathing, nasal discharge, vomiting, and diarrhea (which may be bloody).

3. Conjunctivitis with the discharge of pus from the eyes.

4. Neurological symptoms such as muscle tremors and paralysis of the hind legs or the entire hindquarters.

5. Pustular skin lesions on the lower abdomen, severe keratinization on the paw pads and nose (thickening of the nose mirror and foot pads).

Canine Distemper Diagnosis:

Diagnosis can be challenging due to the complexity of clinical symptoms, often involving mixed infections and secondary bacterial infections. To confirm the diagnosis, virus isolation, serological tests (such as fluorescent antibody assays), or rapid CD test kits (using colloidal gold immunochromatography) are necessary.

Canine Distemper Treatment:

Treatment focuses on maintaining the dog's health, combating the virus, preventing secondary infections, and providing symptomatic relief. This includes:

1. Maintaining Health: Administration of vitamins (like C), creatinine, ATP, and coenzyme A. For highvalue dogs, intravenous injections of life essence or canine albumin can help maintain health.

2. Specific Antiviral Therapy: Use of canine distemper immune serum, interferon, and monoclonal antibodies against CD.

3. Antibacterial and Antiseptic Treatment: Use of cephalosporins (such as cefradine, ceftriaxone sodium) or penicillins (like ampicillin sodium, Suprofen) to combat bacterial infections.

4. Antipyretics: Analgesics like Analgin, and herbal injections like Bupleurum Injection.

5. Antiemetics: Medications like Metoclopramide and Omeprazole to prevent vomiting.

6. Neurological Symptoms: Chlorpromazine, vitamins B1, and B12.

7. Respiratory Symptom Relief: Aminophylline and other medications.

Canine Distemper Prevention:

The course of CD usually lasts for about 2 weeks or slightly longer. In cases with concurrent catarrhal pneumonia and enteritis, the duration may be extended, and the longest course is observed in dogs with neurological symptoms. With a high mortality rate, the best prevention is to follow a vaccination schedule meticulously!