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Distemper is a viral infection that is pretty similar to the measles virus in humans. Canine distemper is a major cause of death in unvaccinated puppies and older dogs and it affects respiratory, intestinal, and central nervous system. The good news, if there is any when talking about distemper, is that numerous dogs infected with this disease do not show symptoms because their body just fights the virus off. now the bad news is that among the dogs that do get sick, about half of them will die from the disease.
When I studied the causes of diseases in pharmacy school, a few conditions were so easy to remember that they didn’t need much review the night before the exam. Canine distemper is one of the easy ones to remember because it’s caused by something called the canine distemper virus (CDV). If a student couldn’t guess that on a multiple choice exam then I would strongly suggest they save a lot of time and money and find a different field of study.
The canine distemper virus starts to suppress the immune system and then it spreads throughout the lymphatic system. about a week later the virus will not only be in all the lymphatic system, but it also would have spread to the blood. The virus can be easily spread through small particles that are carried in the air but the virus itself is easily killed by soaps and cleaning chemicals found around the home.
The symptoms of canine distemper infection involve the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems such as lack of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Fever, eye discharge, inflammation, lesions on the retina, and inflammation affecting the optic nerve can even result in blindness. Seizures can develop if the disease is untreated and starts spreading to the brain. The very young and very old are typically the ones that already have a weakened immune system and are many likely to get pneumonia. Omega 3 fatty acids can help normalize the brain and immune system functions a little, but if the canine does not receive the proper treatment and care from a veterinarian there is a 50% chance that an infected canine will die from the disease.
The best and pretty much the only way to get a proper diagnosis is to bring the canine to a veterinarian who will carry out certain blood tests that analyze cells from different areas of the body. If the virus is not found it is still possible that the canine has distemper. In those cases the veterinarian may make even more examinations with a microscope to try and find even more evidence that indicate the presence of the virus.
Once distemper is diagnosed, the canine is typically given supportive care so the body can fight the infection and not have to deal with other infections or stresses such as dehydration. Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin or Baytril are typically given to avoid pneumonia because the immune system is not at its tip-top shape. Intravenous fluids are typically given to keep the pet well hydrated. medication to avoid or treat diarrhea or vomiting is in some cases given if needed. Steroids such as prednisone or methylprednisolone may be given in some rare cases if inflammation of the optic nerve needs to be treated to avoid blindness. because steroids can even more suppress the immune system, they are typically avoided unless absolutely necessary.
Certain antivirals such as ribavirin have also shown some guarantee against the distemper virus. The last I heard, ribavirin was still being evaluated against distemper and was showing some promise. The past few days I have not been able to get an update on the current use of ribavirin or to get in contact with the essential individuals involved in either the manufacturing or the research for an update on the potential use of ribavirin this way. As soon as I get any answers that are worth mentioning, I will write another short blog or give an update some other way to keep you informed. Either way only the veterinarian can decide on the best course of treatment and because this is a harmful disease it is best to seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
The best way to deal with canine distemper is to avoid it altogether. The way to do this is by vaccination which stimulates the immune system to be able to deal with and eliminate the virus. The success rate of giving a live vaccine is about 100% and giving the killed vaccine produces about 80% success. giving the live vaccine can have some much more side effects especially in dogs that already have a suppressed immune system. In purchase to avoid over-vaccination, titers may be drawn to measure the level of immunity already present against distemper.
In all cases it is best to count on the canine to the care of a compassionate veterinarian that has years of study andexperience as well as knowledge of your particular dog’s condition. A good relationship with a veterinarian is the best way to keep your canine healthy. also as always, a 1800Petmeds pharmacist is available to answer any medication related questions that you may have.
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