Canine Distemper Pathogenesis

The most important source of transmission is infected dogs. Other healthy dogs (those who have not received the canine distemper vaccine) can become infected by directly contacting infected dogs or by consuming food and water contaminated with canine distemper virus. The incubation period is generally three to five days. At the beginning of the disease, the dog becomes lethargic, loses appetite or has no appetite.

Clinical symptoms of infected dogs

The incubation period is generally three to five days. At the beginning of the disease, the dog becomes lethargic and loses appetite. The eyes and nose secrete serous and sticky secretions. Later, it becomes purulent, sometimes mixed with blood threads, and has a bad smell. There is a biphasic fever (temperature rises twice), and as the condition worsens, the nose and eyelids become dry or even cracked, the paw pads become overly keratinized, and severe cases may have severe diarrhea, watery stools, foul-smelling, mixed with mucus and blood, often accompanied by vomiting and pneumonia.

Symptomatic drug use recommendations

Intravenous fluid therapy (IV fluid and drug administration according to the dog's dehydration and weight). Analgesics, flunixin meglumine S.C. antibodies, interferon S.C., anti-emetic drugs, maropitant S.C., hemostatic drugs, hemorrhoid敏IV, creatinine IV, vitamin C IV, omeprazole IV, electrolytes IV. Pay attention to the dog's temperature during IV administration, and pay attention to the volume of fluid administration for pneumonia. Specific treatment plans should follow the doctor's advice.

Precautions

Dogs infected with the virus are considered to be carriers, so it is recommended to isolate them for breeding and treatment. During this period, there should be designated staff responsible for the infected dogs. They should not look after other dogs to prevent transmission. The living environment, venues, kennels, and utensils of the infected dogs must be thoroughly disinfected. If neurological symptoms occur in dogs, it is recommended to abandon the treatment and implement euthanasia. Neurological symptoms (seizures, circling or ataxia, abnormal reflexes or neck stiffness, muscle spasms, repeated rhythmic tremors of the biting muscle group).