Canine Distemper Virus
by Brigitte Smith
Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a virus that causes a
highly contagious disease in dogs known as Distemper. Dogs with distemper
suffer damage to their gastrointestinal, central nervous and respiratory
systems. Distemper is incurable and can often be fatal.
Young puppies, between the ages of three and six months,
are most susceptible to distemper, although older dogs and other types
of carnivorous mammals can also contract this disease. In the past,
Distemper was the leading cause of death among puppies who had not been
vaccinated. Since the Distemper vaccine was created in the early
1960s, the incidence of Distemper and Distemper-related deaths has dropped
considerably.
The canine distemper virus is transmitted via airborne
viral particles and is inhaled by the dog. An infected dog sheds
the virus through bodily secretions and excretions, so it is easy for an
infected dog to cause the infection of another dog. That's why Distemper
is so highly contagious.
Distemper causes diverse symptoms that include both respiratory
and gastrointestinal symptoms, and also result in central nervous system
disorders. Dogs who die after contracting Distemper invariably die
from either secondary bacterial infections, or from central nervous system
complications caused by the disease.
Distemper can be difficult for your vet to diagnose, because
blood tests fail to detect the presence of CDV. Diagnosis often
relies on ruling out other disorders whose symptoms are similar to those
of the canine distemper virus.
Because there is no cure for distemper, treatment for
the disease is supportive. A vet will attempt to treat the symptoms
insofar as possible. A clean, warm, and draft free environment should
be created and maintained to ensure the affected dog is as comfortable
as possible. The eyes and nose should be kept free of discharge,
and medication to treat diarrhea should be administered. Dogs suffering
from distemper need plenty of fluids to help reduce fever and prevent dehydration.
Like any viral disease, prevention is an eminently preferable
(and more successful) option than treatment, so the best option known to
medical science at the present time is vaccination during the early weeks
of life.
The distemper vaccination creates a long lasting immunity
to the virus, but at what stage the immunity is permanent is the subject
of some debate. Most puppies are given vaccinations that include
distemper vaccine along with vaccines for several other diseases. Annual
inoculations are routinely recommended to maintain
a dog’s immunity to disease, but the efficacy of this practise
is questionable. It is now widely accepted that annual inoculations
are NOT required once a dog passes into adulthood, but the practise of
annual vaccinations is still very widespread. For further information
on the dangerous practise of annual
vaccinations for your dog, see Immune
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