How long is the incubation period for canine distemper

Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease caused by the canine distemper virus. It occurs mainly in puppies and is characterised clinically by a compound fever pattern, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal inflammation and neurological signs. The incubation period for canine distemper is 3 to 6 days (maximum 17 to 21 days) and the disease lasts up to about one month. The disease has a mortality rate of 30% to 80%, which is higher when secondary infections occur (often mixed with canine infectious hepatitis). The incidence of the disease is age-related: up to 2 months of age 20% (puppies born to immunised dams can be passively immunised with maternal antibodies from colostrum), between 2 and 12 months of age 70%, above 2 years of age, the incidence decreases, and between 5 and 10 years of age 5%. Dogs recovering from the disease are immunised for life. Winter and spring onset is predominant, with epidemics every three years.