What are the symptoms of canine distemper. Symptoms of distemper.

Canine distemper is an acute and highly contagious disease caused by the canine distemper virus. The main symptoms of distemper in dogs are fever, which lasts for 1-3 days and subsides, and then recurs after a few days. Dogs become lethargic, lose their appetite, and can experience seizures in the neurological form of the disease. Other symptoms include convulsions, diarrhea, and vomiting, which are associated with gastrointestinal issues. The disease can ultimately lead to severe dehydration and weakness, resulting in death.

The main target of distemper is young dogs that are either not fully immunized or lack sufficient antibodies in their bodies. The mortality rate is very high, and even if the dog recovers, it may still experience seizure and other sequelae due to neurological damage.

What to do if a dog has distemper:

Distemper must be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If the dog is unfortunately infected, early treatment with immune serum and antibiotics can lead to complete recovery. Whether treated in the hospital or at home, the dog should be provided with a warm and dry environment. Most importantly, dogs should be vaccinated during their infancy, and should avoid going outdoors during epidemic periods. It is crucial to avoid contact with infected dogs and their excrement or vomit.

The most common preventive measure for distemper is vaccination using attenuated vaccines on young dogs. The first vaccination should be administered at 8-12 weeks of age, followed by a second vaccination two weeks later. Maternal antibodies in puppies start to disappear at around 6-8 weeks, and are completely gone by 13-15 weeks. Therefore, vaccination during this period can achieve better immunity.