Symptoms of distemper in dogs and how to treat it

Canine distemper, commonly known as distemper, is a serious canine disease that mainly affects puppies. The causative agent is the canine distemper virus. Sick dogs are characterised by a biphasic fever pattern, rhinitis, severe gastrointestinal disturbances and respiratory tract inflammation. In a few cases, encephalitis can occur. This is why pet dogs have a high mortality rate from this disease. Healthy dogs are infected via the respiratory or digestive tracts through direct contact with a sick dog or through contaminated air or food. In addition to puppies, foxes and mink are also susceptible to distemper in fur-bearing animals. How can distemper be treated? Once a dog has been diagnosed with the disease, owners need to keep them in isolation and thoroughly disinfect the contaminated environment. Although distemper has a low cure rate, it can be effectively prevented by vaccination, so don’t forget to get your dog vaccinated.