Canine Distemper: Protect Your Puppies From This Disease

The deadliest disease risk that dogs face is a condition known as canine distemper. The mortality rate is high with this infection and owners should be aware of the risks, preventions, and treatments. It is a threat across the globe, anywhere a dog may live. No breed is more susceptible, but younger dogs are.

Distemper is a very contagious infection caused by a virus. Contact with other infected dogs is an easy way for a dog to contract it. Also, contact with an infected dog's waste can lead to transmission. It affects a dog's central nervous system and even if it doesn't kill the dog, it could cause irreparable damage, such as hearing loss or blindness.

Dogs display symptoms with distemper, but because some the symptoms resemble other conditions, the distemper isn't caught early enough. The mortality rate for young puppies with distemper is estimated to be around 80%. Symptoms may include, but aren't limited to: fever, coughing, and inflammation of the stomach and/or intestines.

Younger dogs are most likely to succumb to distemper. However, it is possible for a dog at any age to catch it. Prevention and early treatment are essential. Vaccination is your dog's best defense against distemper. Be sure to stay on top of your dog's shot records. Puppies born from vaccinated dogs will acquire a bit of natural immunity from their mother's breast milk.

As with any disease, the best defense is prevention. For many reasons, it is very important that your dog makes it to all of his well-patient visits. Be sure to keep your dog's exposure to strange dogs to a minimum. Unfortunately, it is hard to tell if another dog may be sick. That is why it is recommended to have regular shots and examinations.