Common Disease Name:
Distemper, Hardpad disease
Medical Term for Disease:
Distemper
Species Affected by Disease:
Dogs, ferrets, skunks, raccoons, and foxes
Age Animal Usually Affected:
Any
Commonly Affected Breeds:
Any
Sex Usually Affected:
Both
Disease Symptoms:
Fever, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, pneumonia, depression, progressive loss of motor and mental abilities such as nervous twitches and seizures. The disease may harden the paws and nose, damage the teeth, make breathing difficult with copious nasal discharge, and diminish the appetite. Dogs that do not die from this disease may develop recurring neurological problems.
Method(s) of Diagnosis:
Often a diagnosis is made by clinical signs and history of the dog. Example: origin (from a shelter?) vaccination status. Since the virus is aerosolized and incubates for about a week before major symptoms appear, shelter dogs are at high risk. Positive antibody tests do not differentiate between vaccination and exposure to virulent virus. Dogs may die from acute disease before antibody can be produced. Viral antigen or viral inclusions can be found in some cells such as buffy coat cells and conjunctival or vaginal cell imprints. However, negative results do not rule out distemper. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) can be tested for cell and protein content, CDV specific antibody, and viral antigen early in the disease course.
Disease Causes:
The disease is caused by canine distemper virus (CDV), a morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family. The virus is closely related to measles virus, rinderpest virus of cattle, and phocine (seal) and dolphin distemper viruses. Secondary bacterial infections often involve the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. The virus is highly contagious and passed typically by air droplets from an infected animal's breathe or nasal secretions.
Treatment:
No treatment is currently available. Dogs with distemper should be kept as inpatients in isolation to prevent infection of other dogs. The mortality rate in dogs with distemper is about 50%. Dogs that appear to recover from early respiratory signs may later develop fatal CNS signs. No antiviral drugs are known to be effective. Because canine distemper is highly immunosuppressive, antibiotics should always be given to reduce secondary bacterial infections. Symptomatic treatment of respiratory, gastrointestinal signs and conjunctivitis and the possibilities for treatment of CNS signs are limited.
Prognosis:
Very guarded depending on the dog's immune response to the virus and the strain of CDVirus exposed to. The mortality rate in dogs with distemper is about 50%. Dogs should be constantly observed for several reasons. Pneumonia or dehydration from diarrhea in the acute phase could cause a crisis. Once CNS signs are present, convulsions are expected. Euthanasia may be indicated when repeated convulsions occur. Depending on the strain, canine distemper may range from sub clinical (no symptoms noticed) to acute or sub acute to fatal or nonfatal infection. Death may occur from 2 weeks to 3 months after infection. Dogs with mild central nervous system (CNS) signs may recover with muscle twitching continuing for several months. Once dogs are fully recovered, they do not shed CDV to other animals.
Complications:
Acute death. There is always a possibility of the occurrence of CNS signs for up to 2-3 months after respiratory signs have cleared up.
Prevention:
Easily preventable with proper
vaccination. The role of maternal antibody in canine distemper is 
important. Maternal antibodies are the ones the
puppy receives from its mother. Most pups lose protection from maternal
antibody between 6 and 12 weeks of age. Two or three vaccinations should be
given during this period. Most veterinarians recommend vaccinating from 6 week
through 16 weeks at 2-3 weeks intervals with modified live vaccines. Infection
of pups with CDV can be avoided by isolating them from wildlife (e.g., raccoons,
foxes, and skunks) or from CDV-infected dogs. It is a good idea not to exposure
your puppy to other dogs until is has had its series of vaccinations.
Medicines Used for Treatment of Disease:
Vaccinations; medications to treat symptoms such as antibiotics, fluids and anti-diarrheas.
Helpful Products:
Vaccinations
