Canine distemper

Distemper is a very contagious and dangerous viral disease for the health of our dogs. It is unfortunately widespread in dog farms.

If massive vaccination has allowed to reduce considerably the number of dogs affected by this pathology in France, the virus is still rampant and does not know, to this day, any treatment. The distemper is still feared by breeders and veterinarians.

 

What is distemper?

Distemper is a disease as old as the hills, it seems, as it has been mentioned in literature for centuries. However, it was the veterinary doctor Henri Carré who first described it in 1905, giving it its name, although it is also called Distemper or Canine Distemper, after the virus that causes it.

Caused by a virus of the morbillivirus family similar to that of measles in humans and rinderpest, distemper is extremely contagious and severe in dogs. There are two forms of canine distemper: the acute form, called catarrhal, and the chronic form, called nervous.

Canine distemper is a worldwide disease that affects not only dogs, but also cats (in which it is asymptomatic), ferrets, raccoons and all other carnivores. Domestic dogs, however, are the most affected by the virus and have the most severe symptoms.

It causes nerve damage and manifests itself primarily as dental and skin disorders. Its prognosis is extremely poor, especially when the first symptoms are observed, and there is currently no curative treatment.

 

Causes of canine distemper

Distemper is primarily airborne, meaning that the virus is shed by the infected dog into the air and enters the body of other dogs through the respiratory tract. It is also transmitted through oronasal (nose-to-nose) contact between two dogs and, less commonly, from mother to puppies during pregnancy.

Infectious agents are excreted in the dog's saliva, sweat, urine, feces, and tears. However, the morbillivirus that causes distemper is fragile and does not survive long in the open air.

The epidemics develop, in fact, in confined places, and in particular the breeding farms where the dogs are in almost permanent contact with their congeners. Also, puppies are most often affected, which is why it is called "young dog disease".

 

 

 

Symptoms of distemper in dogs

Symptoms of distemper vary depending on the form of the disease (acute or chronic), the immune response of the dog, and how early the dog is diagnosed and treated by the veterinarian. After the dog is infected with the virus, an incubation period lasting from 7 days to 1 month on average begins, during which time the infectious agents multiply in the dog's body at primary sites.

After 7 to 14 days of incubation, two scenarios are possible: the dog shows a strong immune response and recovers spontaneously, or the infection spreads to an acute or chronic form and the virus reaches secondary sites of multiplication.

These so-called primary sites are the first places in the dog's body that are infected with the virus. In the first days of incubation, the moribillivirus reaches mainly the lymphocytes and lymphatic tissues, then the lymphoid tissues where the cells of the immune system reside (spleen, bone marrow, thymus, etc.).

The secondary sites are the organs where the virus subsequently spreads, and these vary in the acute and chronic form. Finally, it should be noted that an acute disease is characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms and a rapid evolution, whereas a chronic disease develops progressively and lasts a long time, sometimes even persisting for the entire life of the animal (diabetes, for example, is a chronic disease).

 

The catarrhal or acute form of distemper

The acute form, also called catarrhal (catarrh being an inflammation and hypersecretion of the mucous membranes), manifests itself, as its name indicates, by respiratory symptoms. Nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, watery eyes and breathing difficulties appear when the virus has colonized - among other things - the epithelium (external envelope) of the dog's lungs, digestive system and urinary system.

In this form, respiratory and ocular symptoms are often marked, and may be accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, depression, fever and other general and non-specific disorders. The virus then reaches the dog's central nervous system, causing demyelinating encephalomyelitis, an inflammation of the brain that destroys the myelin that protects the nerve fibers.

Nervous symptoms occur, such as uncontrollable muscle contractions (myoclonus), convulsions, mobility disorders (ataxia) or coma. In animals that have survived the acute form of distemper (in moderate cases) there are two types of sequelae: hypoplasia of the tooth enamel and hyperkeratosis.

Hypoplasia of the dental enamel is an insufficient development of the enamel that protects the teeth, occurring when a puppy has contacted distemper while its permanent teeth are still growing. Hyperkeratosis is a thickening of the skin that, in the case of distemper, usually affects the dog's pads and/or nose.

The virus infects the cells of the skin, which instead of being destroyed by the disease, begin to proliferate excessively. When the acute form of distemper does not cause the death of the dog and the dog gets out with hyperkeratosis, the infection can evolve to the chronic form.

 

Nervous or chronic distemper

In the nervous form, distemper virus causes delayed symptoms, occurring 6 to 7 weeks after the dog is infected. At this stage, the virus is still present in the dog's nervous system and in areas of hyperkeratosis on the skin.

The animal's body then produces a delayed immune response that leads to immunopathological complications resulting in demyelination (nerve damage) and, in most cases, encephalitis (severe inflammation of the brain).

The dog then presents nervous symptoms (tremors, staggering gait, convulsions, etc.) and non-specific general symptoms (fever, fatigue, apathy, etc.).

 

 

Prognosis and Treatment of Canine Distemper

The immune response of the dog plays a major role in its prognosis. Thus, dogs with a strong immune system may contract the virus without showing symptoms, while others will die or be permanently affected. Overall, the outcome is rather gloomy, especially when the dog presents the first nervous signs, i.e. when the virus has already infected its central nervous system, which is often the moment of diagnosis.

Indeed, because of the non-specificity of the symptoms, distemper in its early stages does not usually worry the owners and the visit to the veterinarian who will make the diagnosis is often late, which reduces the chances of recovery and survival of the animal. In the acute form of distemper, the animal may recover, but the infection may later progress to a chronic form.

In the chronic form, the dog may also overcome the infection, but will remain infected for 2 to 3 months, with the virus remaining in the eyes, lungs, central nervous system and/or hyperkeratosis areas of the body. In dogs that survive the virus, recovery is slow and often incomplete: more or less important after-effects may remain.

There is no cure for the morbillivirus responsible for distemper, so the proposed treatments are symptomatic, palliative and/or preventive. As a preventive measure, vaccination is the best solution to protect dogs from distemper and can be given as early as 6 weeks of age.

Vaccination coverage is also essential to overcome the virus on the French territory, as vaccinated dogs act as real "barriers" that prevent the disease from infecting new homes and spreading.

 

FAQ

Is distemper fatal in dogs?
Yes, distemper is fatal in most cases. It is especially serious in puppies and animals with weak immune systems, but it can also cause death in healthy dogs.

Can a dog with distemper be cured?
At this time, there is no treatment that can eliminate the virus that causes the disease and cure the infected animal. However, it is possible to treat the dog's symptoms (fever, tremors, nasal discharge, gastric problems...) and to reduce its pain. Antivirals can also help to stop the proliferation of the virus, but not to make it disappear.

Is there a vaccine against distemper?
Yes, and it is highly recommended for all dogs to prevent them from suffering from this often fatal disease that is very difficult to treat.

What is the difference between canine distemper and distemper?
It's the same thing: distemper is the name of the virus that causes distemper. So if your dog has been vaccinated against distemper, he is protected against distemper.

How do I know if my dog has distemper?
Only a veterinarian will be able to detect distemper infection, as distemper has a wide range of symptoms that make it difficult to diagnose the disease. Non-specific symptoms are often observable (fever, fatigue, gastric disorders...), followed by respiratory and ocular symptoms characterized by significant nasal and ocular discharge.

Nervous disorders are more characteristic when the disease is at an advanced stage of its evolution. Distemper is a real scourge among our friends the dogs, it remains a common disease that often results in the death of the animal.

The best way to protect your best friend is to have him vaccinated by a veterinarian according to the vaccination schedule that he will plan especially for your dog. It is also crucial to adopt a puppy from a serious kennel where all the animals are already vaccinated and where the puppy has also been vaccinated as soon as possible.

Also, remember that you should never overlook any changes in your dog's behaviour or symptoms, no matter how harmless they may seem. Sudden fatigue, runny nose or simple stomach problems can hide a serious disease, distemper or not.

A visit to your veterinarian, or at least a phone call, will allow you to know what is going on and, in case of a problem, to treat your dog at the very beginning of the disease, which significantly increases his chances of survival.