Distemper is a very contagious virus that attacks your dog’s respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system and lymphoid tissue. Distemper can be fatal to your dog depending on the strength of the viral strain your dog has, as well as your dog’s underlying health and wellness. For example, a young puppy whose immune system is not yet fully developed will not be able to survive past the beginning stages of the infection. If your dog survives, any neurological effects of the distemper, such as convulsions, will likely be permanent.

There is a distemper vaccine that is normally given three times when your dog is a puppy: at 6 to 8 weeks, again at 9 to 11 weeks, and finally at 12 to 14 weeks. Then, your dog will be given a booster 1 year later to be followed by additional boosters every 3 years. Click here to see a typical vaccine schedule for your dog.

Initial symptoms of infection will be reduced appetite, depression, fever and dehydration. As the virus will then usually impact your dog’s respiratory tract, your dog will likely have some eye and nasal discharge. Your dog will also have difficulty breathing and have a phlegm-like cough. Your dog may also experience diarrhea which may be bloody and may vomit. Next, the virus will attack your dog’s central nervous system. This will cause your dog to eventually have convulsions, beginning with just jaw snapping and ending up as full-body convulsions.

The virus is spread when your dog comes into contact with bodily fluids, such as urine, eye discharge, nasal discharge, and cough secretions from an infected dog. After recovery, a dog who has been infected with the virus usually remains contagious for several weeks.

Your vet will ultimately make a diagnosis based on your dog’s symptoms and a variety of tests and imaging techniques. First, there exists a blood titer test in which your dog’s blood will be evaluated for the presence of antibodies or substances produced by the body specifically in response to the virus. However, this test often does not allow for a definitive diagnosis. Your vet may also take tissue or cell samples from your dog to look for the virus. However, sometimes the virus may be hiding in other places in the body and not show up in the sample, so this test can give false negatives. Your vet will also take X-rays of your dog’s lungs to look for signs of the respiratory infection that often accompanies distemper. Finally, your vet will perform routine blood work to look for changes that indicate your dog has an infection, and your vet may also analyze your dog’s cerebrospinal fluid to check for signs such as the presence of antibodies.

Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment. Instead, your vet will focus on giving your dog supportive care and treating the symptoms. Your dog will be hospitalized and isolated from other dogs to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Your dog will be put on an IV to administer fluids, nutritional support and medications. Your dog will likely be given anti-diarrhea medication, anti-seizure medications to control convulsions and antibiotics to treat any secondary bacterial infections that may have developed. To support the respiratory system, coupage, a type of massage administered to your dog’s chest wall, and nebulization will be performed. Any nasal or eye discharge will be routinely cleaned.

The best prevention is the vaccine. It should also be noted that because the vaccine is so popular, most mother dogs will have received it. Thus, the mother will pass on at least some immunity to her pups via breast milk until the puppy is old enough to be vaccinated.

You can be infected with the virus in that the virus does seem able to replicate within the human body. However, illness does not result. Nonetheless, you should check with your own healthcare professional if your dog has distemper or if you have been exposed to a dog with distemper.