Distemper is a very serious and life-threatening disease. Fortunately, thanks to vaccination, it is not common in our environment or, if it occurs, the clinical picture is milder. Even so, it is possible for our dog to become infected, in which case urgent veterinary care will be required. Treatment usually consists of different therapies that can be overwhelming for any caregiver. That is why in this article on our site we are going to explain what are the care for a dog with distemper
What is canine distemper?
Distemper is a viral disease that is highly contagious through inhalation of secretions. It has a high mortality rate and usually affects young unvaccinated dogs, especially between 6 and 12 weeks of age. Its symptoms include the following:
- Nasal and ocular discharge that begins as watery and becomes mucopurulent.
- Fever.
- Anorexia, the dog stops eating.
- Digestive symptoms in some cases, with vomiting and diarrhea that can lead to dehydration.
- Dry cough.
- When brain involvement occurs, symptoms of encephalitis such as drooling, head jerking and involuntary chewing movements, seizures or myoclonus (rhythmic contractions of muscle groups) beginning with the dog asleep and progressing to happen at any time of the day or night. They cause pain.
- Secondary infections due to the immunosuppressive effects of the virus.
If left untreated, the evolution of the symptoms can end with the death of the dog For this reason, it is essential to go to the veterinarian before first sign. As always, prevention is preferable to cure, which is why it is essential that we vaccinate our dog from 6-8 weeks of life. Vaccination is the main measure, now we will see the care for the dog with distemper.
Veterinary care for dogs with distemper
In addition to the vaccine that will serve as prevention, when our dog has distemper, the veterinarian may determine the following measures:
- Hospital admission in the most serious cases, when it is necessary to administer serum or intravenous medication.
- Antibiotics because, although it is a viral disease, these drugs will control secondary bacterial infections that can manifest themselves by taking advantage of the state of dog weakness.
- Depending on the symptoms manifested, analgesics, antiemetics can be administered(to control vomiting and nausea), p gastric rotators or anti-inflammatories.
With all these veterinary guidelines we will take our dog home, where we will have to provide him with the necessary care for a dog with distemper and which we will see in the next section. Let's not forget to ask our veterinarian all the doubts and contact him with any question or worsening.
Home care for a dog with distemper
We are going to explain what general guidelines we must follow at home to care for our dog with distemper if it does not require veterinary admission or has already been discharged:
- Strictly follow the medical treatment prescribed by the veterinarian, both in terms of dosage, hours and administration guidelines.
- Keep the dog in a dry and warm place, avoiding drafts and humidity.
- Provide adequate nutrition. It is normal that he does not eat his usual feed, so we must look for an option that is more appetizing, since it is important that he eats to be strong and thus be able to fight pathogens.
- Observe him for check his temperature and any changes in his condition. We must write down everything that is significant, improvements and worsening, to transfer it to the veterinarian. We will pay attention to its secretions and other symptoms, as they will provide information on the evolution of distemper.
- Isolate him, if possible, from other dogs he lives with, as it is a highly contagious disease. That is why we must also disinfect beds, floors and any other surface with which it comes into contact. This measure is especially important when there are dogs in the home without the distemper vaccine.
- Keep him in a controlled space if he usually lives outside. At least while the treatment lasts, it must be in a closed and covered area, either inside the house or, if this is not possible, in a garage or space that we can enable for this purpose.
Frequently asked questions from handlers of dogs with distemper
In this last section we are going to answer some of the most common questions among caregivers who must take care of a dog with distemper. These would be the following:
Can my dog give me distemper?
No, the distemper virus is specific, this means that can only affect dogs. Therefore, humans such as cats or other animals that live in the home should not take any special precautions.
Can I stop the treatment when my dog feels better?
No, under no circumstances, all treatments should be given to completion as recommended by the veterinarian, regardless of whether the dog is find already recovered. This is so to avoid bacterial resistance (in the case of antibiotics) or to "wean the body out of habit" (corticosteroids). The exception is treatments such as fluid therapy, that is, those that are administered only if necessary, which can be used as many times as necessary without maintaining a fixed pattern.
Can I bathe my dog with distemper?
No, It is not convenient to cool down. Yes we can and we should clean secretions, with wipes and making sure to dry it well and keep it in a warm environment.
How long does a dog with distemper "last"?
Is the dreaded question on every caregiver's mind. Whether or not a dog will survive or not will depend on multiple factors such as the virulence of the virus, when he starts receiving treatment, his immune status prior etc. In general, in viral diseases we can only offer support treatment so that the body fights the virus. Once all the measures we have mentioned have been implemented, the outcome no longer depends on us. Of course, if the dog passes the critical phase of the disease and recovers, the distemper virus will not influence its life expectancy.
