Getting your puppy vaccinated for distemper is essential - but there are also a number of treatment options if the disease does develop.
Distemper in dogs was once a serious problem, and it was not uncommon for it to kill 50% of adult dogs and 80% of puppies who developed the disease. Nowadays, it is one of the most prominent examples of the success of vaccinations and it is very rare for dogs to become seriously infected. It is still common, however, and the majority of dogs come into contact with it at some stage or another, though a small percentage of those actually develop any symptoms.
Distemper can be described as a virus that enters a dog’s body and spreads to lymph nodes where it kills lymphocytes – the cells whose function is natural viral defense – so that the immune system is weakened, and the virus is allowed to spread to other parts of the body. It progresses to the lungs where it can cause pneumonia, to the gastrointestinal tract where it will cause diarrhea or dehydration and ultimately to the brain where it can cause encephalitis, paralysis and seizures and this usually results in the dog’s death – either from the virus itself or from being euthanized.
Needless to say, vaccinations for distemper in dogs are still a vital part of preventing your puppy from getting the disease, and along with vaccinations for parvovirus they are the most essential shots for a young puppy to receive. As a result of vaccinations the disease very rarely causes any problem, though there are also now a number of modern treatments that can be used to combat the disease if it does.
Causes & Symptoms Of Distemper In Dogs
Distemper in dogs is a highly contagious disease that is passed from dog to dog through breath or sneezes or contacting bowls and other objects such as bones and toys that have been infected with the virus. Most dogs don’t develop the disease, but those that do take a while to show any symptoms. The virus has an incubation period of about 6 to 9 days, after which the disease progresses in various stages of increasing severity. These will often include the following symptoms:
- In the early stage your dog will have a fever, and then be completely normal for a week before showing other symptoms.
- At this point the fever will return, but it will also come with a loss of appetite and energy. In more time, the eyes become inflamed and sticky with discharge.
- Other common early signs include coughing, weight loss and diarrhea, though the specific symptoms can vary from dog to dog.
- As the condition worsens, there will also be heavy discharge from the nose and eventually possible skin eruptions around the belly and hind legs.
- After about 3 weeks the virus can fully progress to the brain, where it causes neurological symptoms in about half the dogs who get the disease. These can include seizures, paralysis, loss of coordination and encephalitis – and at this point the outlook can become very bad for your dog.
Treatment For Distemper In Dogs
By far the easiest way to prevent your dog from experiencing distemper is to ensure they are vaccinated for the virus as a puppy. If they do become infected treatment options are fairly limited. These can usually include antibiotics or drugs that have very little effect, though it is possible for dogs to recover through the use of natural remedies that help strengthen the dog’s immune system. These help prevent the major concern in encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, and the initial course of action when fever first appears is to have the dog fast on vegetable broth and water until their temperature returns to normal.
If your dog is healthy, they could easily fast for up to 7 days – dogs are actually capable of going without solid food for weeks. Your dog shouldn’t have to fast for too long, however, and the fever should disappear within a few days. To help strengthen the immune system, you should also give them Vitamin C every 2 hours in amounts of 250 milligrams for small dogs and puppies, 500 milligrams for medium-sized dogs and 1,000 milligrams for large dogs every 3 hours. Once the fever has passed you can double the interval, but don’t give them any at night so their system can recover.
If the virus has already progressed to the stage where there is discharge from the eyes, you can try dropping almond oil or cod liver oil over them to help them heal and then giving them a specifically made remedy for distemper in Distemperinum 30C, though this may often be restricted to use by vets. You could also try Natrum Muriaticum 30C for this early stage by giving them one pellet every morning and evening. If the condition has progressed to the stage of eye discharges, then more severe treatment is required with Pulsatilla 30C in 3 doses a day. For the very sick dog Arsenicum Album 30C and Hydrastis Canadensis are used for worsening symptoms, and at this stage you should certainly seek advice from your vet as to the recommended dosage. There is also treatment for dogs who are unable to fully get over the disease in the form of Psorinum 30C given once a month.
In many cases the disease doesn’t become too severe and your dog can fully recover within a few days to a week. This depends a lot on how healthy they are to begin with, and the amount of immunity that is passed onto them by their mother. If they are still weak after this period of time, you can try supplementing their diet with Vitamin B, nerve tonic and fresh grated garlic to help assist their recovery.
Posted by Brent McCoy on October 19, 2011