After treatment for distemper, the puppy developed weakness, heavy breathing, the dog refuses to eat and hardly drinks water. What to do?
Answer
Hello! Distemper (canine plague) is a dangerous disease, sometimes not without consequences. Unfortunately, the form of plague is not specified; several variants of the disease are known.
Varieties of plague
Distemper (Carre's disease) - systemic disease, which, as a rule, affects the entire body with a predominant violation of a certain system. Based on the above, a number of variations of the disease are distinguished: intestinal, pulmonary, skin and nervous. Often (up to 90% of cases) generalized plague occurs, combining several forms. Famous atypical appearance, most dangerous species disease leading to death.
With adequate easy treatment form - skin. The temperature rises slightly, blisters form on the skin, formations burst and dry out, and pus accumulates under the crusts.
Pneumonic plague primarily affects respiratory system. There is a dry cough, turning into a wet one, wheezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, wheezing, diarrhea and vomiting are possible. Intestinal plague is manifested by diarrhea, vomiting with mucus, blood, dehydration, the animal is extremely weakened, and periodically loses consciousness. The dog's appetite completely disappears, leaving a strong thirst. The color of tooth enamel changes. The enteropulmonary variety is common, including symptoms of both types of the disease.
Nervous form gives carnivore plague severe consequences and can be a complication of another type of disease. Symptoms: convulsions, photophobia, excitability. Lesions persist after nervous plague nervous system: paralysis, epileptic seizures, mental changes. The pathology often ends in the death of the animal.
Consequences and complications
The consequences often remain lifelong. Depending on the shape past illness There are heavy and mediocre ones. As a rule, after distemper dogs remain chronic diseases digestive system, complications on the lungs, bronchi, heart after the pulmonary form, damage to the liver and pancreas, after the nervous one - blindness, deafness, paralysis. Complications of the intestinal form - chronic colitis, enteritis. IN oral cavity New growths appear, including teeth, and the darkening of the enamel persists. Sometimes, after a seemingly complete recovery, the animal becomes ill again, with severe nervous plague. This happens when the virus is not destroyed, but continues to develop in nerve cells.
There are cases when an animal becomes additionally infected with other diseases, and the body is weakened during the plague. Dangerous diseases are possible: encephalitis, meningitis.
As for a specific pet, presumably, the puppy has a digestive system disorder, possibly enteritis, and absorption is impaired nutrients from food. There is a chance that the untreated virus will be activated; the first three to four weeks after recovery, the pet’s condition should be closely monitored. At this time, the animals' immunity is weakened, any load or stress leads to a recurrence of the disease. At the first sign of deterioration in your puppy’s health, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible! If recovery goes well, the dog develops lifelong immunity to illness. In the future, it is still recommended to vaccinate your dog against distemper.
Distemper in puppies
The described puppy was lucky - canine distemper is dangerous for children and often leads to death, especially lightning-fast distemper, which occurs quickly and asymptomatically. The Carré virus is extremely dangerous for unvaccinated puppies aged 1 - 1.5 months; the dogs die as a result. At a later age, if the puppy was born from a vaccinated mother and received the vaccination, and the immunity is not weakened, the outcome of the disease is expected to be favorable. In puppies, unlike in adult animals, canine distemper rarely becomes chronic.
Treatment of the consequences of plague
Be sure to take your puppy to the vet. It's difficult to give advice without seeing the animal. The doctor is able to see the symptoms missed by the owners and prescribe adequate treatment. An examination of internal organs (stomach, intestines, gallbladder, liver) is indicated in order to accurately determine the cause of the symptoms described.
To treat complications of digestive system a gentle diet consisting of nutritious easily digestible foods: minced meat, finely chopped meat, rice broth, beef liver, cottage cheese, meat broth, eggs and milk. If there is insufficient enzyme production, dogs are given natural or artificial before feeding. gastric juice. Now it is necessary to provide the animal with peace and absence of stress so that the virus does not activate during the period when the immune system weakened.
If you contacted a veterinarian, most likely the diagnosis was made correctly. It is worth saying that at certain stages, canine distemper exhibits symptoms similar to other dangerous diseases, for example, parvovirus enteritis. It happens that it develops simultaneously with the plague or after recovery viral hepatitis. Complications after plague can be caused by pathogens that enter a weakened body. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian.
Distemper in dogs (canine distemper, Carré's disease)– a dangerous contagious infectious disease that occurs in hyperacute (fulminant), acute, under acute form. It is characterized by disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous disorders, fever, profuse diarrhea, acute catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes, conjunctivitis, and skin exanthema. Plague is considered one of the most dangerous, insidious, widespread viral disease. In addition to dogs, predatory animals (foxes, wolves, raccoons) and fur-bearing animals are susceptible to distemper.
Distemper poses a particular danger to young, unvaccinated dogs aged two months to a year, and small puppies with undeveloped immunity. In veterinary medicine, the following dog breeds are most susceptible to canine distemper: german shepherds, huskies, staff terriers, Chinese crested dogs, bull terriers, Pekingese dogs, lap dogs, pugs, collies. Terriers and mongrel dogs show resistance to distemper. But it must be taken into account that breed predisposition and susceptibility are still scientific facts not proven. The disease has no seasonal manifestations, so dogs can get distemper at any time of the year.
Etiology, pathogenesis, causative agent of plague
Canine distemper is caused by an RNA virus from the paramyxovirus family. The virus is resistant to factors external influence, sunlight, UV radiation, negative temperature conditions. At minus 15-20 degrees, it remains active in animal corpses for up to six to seven months. The virus is resistant to some disinfectants.
In external environment The distemper virus enters with feces, urine, nasal discharge, excrement, which is released by recovered, infected individuals in whom the disease proceeds in latent form without showing any clinical signs. Recovered dogs release the distemper virus into environment for 75-90 days. Virus carriers are all types of wild animals.
Infection occurs through direct and indirect contact of infected individuals with healthy individuals, through general subjects household items, equipment, bowls, collars, dog equipment, combs. bedding. Infection occurs through airborne droplets and alimentary routes when dogs consume food or water contaminated with viruses.
The introduction of viruses into the body occurs through the mucous membranes, submandibular, and bronchial lymph nodes, where it multiplies. From organs lymphatic system the virus spreads through the blood and lymph flow to vital important bodies. Damage occurs to the organs of the respiratory, circulatory, immune, endocrine, and nervous systems.
Symptoms of distemper in dogs
Canine distemper can occur against the background of other infectious viral diseases - adenovirus, coronavirus infection, parvovirus enteritis. The intensity of the manifestation of plague depends on the resistance of the body, the degree of virulence (pathogenicity), the strain of the virus, the presence/absence of secondary infections, the presence of pathogenic factors, microorganisms in the body, physiological characteristics organism, stage of the disease. The incubation period, from the moment pathogenic bacteria enter the body until the first symptoms appear, lasts from three to five days to two to three months.
Distemper in dogs occurs at lightning speed, in acute, subacute, typical, atypical forms. Less commonly noted chronic course. Depending on the diagnosis clinical picture distinguish between intestinal, respiratory, skin, nervous, abortifacient form. In dogs, in 80-96% of cases, a generalized form is diagnosed, combining clinical manifestations all forms.
In adult dogs with a strong, formed immune system, distemper manifests itself as fever, depression general condition, lethargy, apathy, changes in behavior. The disease lasts from three to six days and ends with recovery.
Clinical picture of canine plague:
temperature rise to 41-42 degrees;
intoxication of the body;
purulent discharge grey-green color mucopurulent exudate accumulates from the eyes, nose, ears, and in the corners of the eyes;
food refusal, anorexia, a sharp decline body weight;
warm, dry nose, crusty appearance on the nose, unpleasant odor from the ears;
attacks of vomiting, nausea, diarrhea;
dryness, thickening, callus of the skin;
changes in the dog’s behavior – lethargy, apathy, fear of light;
cough, rhinitis, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath;
thickening of the pads on the dog's paws.
In case of exposure to exotoxins on the brain, a nervous form of plague develops, which can lead to irreversible consequences and serious damage to the central nervous system. In addition to the signs described above, there is a lack of coordination of movement, muscle spasms, convulsions, paralysis, unsteady gait, decreased/increased skin sensitivity, tonic convulsions, myelitis, paralysis of the internal sphincters. Epileptic seizures are possible. With the development of meningoencephalitis, purulent lesions meninges, the animal dies. The nervous form of plague in most cases has an unfavorable prognosis.
In the intestinal form of distemper in dogs, disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, debilitating vomiting, profuse diarrhea, hypersalivation, disturbances in the functioning of the kidneys and liver (hepatitis), and intoxication are noted. Infected animals refuse to feed, the temperature is consistently high, and gastroenteritis develops. In case of distemper, unlike enteritis, dogs happily drink large quantities of water.
When diagnosing the respiratory, pulmonary form in sick dogs, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, rhinitis, severe nasal discharge, crusts on the nose, uveitis, photophobia, otitis externa. Dogs constantly rub their faces with their paws and sneeze. The temperature is elevated. On initial stages the inflammation is catarrhal in nature. With a prolonged course of the disease, the upper respiratory tract is involved in inflammation, and bronchopneumonia develops.
Most mild form distemper in dogs is cutaneous (exanthematous), in which on the peritoneum, inner surface hips, near the tail, on ears ah papular-pustular appears small rash. Bubbles filled clear liquid, with purulent exudate, burst over time, dry out, and in their place brown, brown hard crusts form. An unpleasant sound is clearly heard from the ears sour smell. Swelling of the paws and individual areas of the epidermis is noted.
Dogs that have suffered distemper (convalescent animals) develop lifelong immunity. But it is possible that throughout the life of such animals, hyperkeratoses, structural disturbances, darkening of tooth enamel, dyspepsia, hypersensitivity to chemical reagents, and biological factors are noted.
The atypical stage of canine distemper is most difficult to diagnose. There are no external clinical signs. A slight increase in temperature by one or half degrees is possible. Increased gluttony is noted, which is replaced by a complete refusal of food and favorite treats. After two weeks, symptoms characteristic of the nervous form are noted (seizures, convulsions, sudden changes in behavior). The death of dogs occurs on days 28-30.
Diagnosis of distemper in dogs
A veterinarian makes a diagnosis based on the received epizootological data for the region, visible characteristic clinical signs. Conduct differential diagnosis, a number of biochemical, laboratory, hematological tests and studies. For diagnostics use:
neutralization reaction;
immunofluorescence;
indirect hemagglutenation reaction;
biological tests for animal susceptibility.
Treatment of distemper in dogs
Therapeutic measures and treatment regimen should be prescribed only by a veterinary specialist based on the diagnostic results obtained. Self-medication can lead to disastrous consequences and cost your pet’s life. The sooner treatment is prescribed, the greater the likelihood of a complete recovery for the dog.
Veterinary specialists prescribe the choice of treatment methods individually, in each specific case. Treatment is aimed at relieving the main symptoms, maintaining immunity, and restoring the functioning of organs and systems of the body. Complex treatment depends entirely on the stage, intensity of symptoms, and form of the disease.
In the fulminant, hyperacute form of plague, the prognosis is unfavorable and often ends in death. In combined forms, obvious manifestation of symptoms - unfavorable, cautious. In all other cases, with timely access to a veterinary hospital and correctly prescribed treatment, it is favorable.
To treat dogs for distemper, depending on the pathogenesis, intensity, and degree of symptoms, dogs are prescribed antibiotic therapy, etiotropic, replacement, pathogenetic therapy, physiotherapeutic methods, symptomatic healing techniques. On an individual basis, animals are prescribed specific medications, the action of which is aimed at destroying pathogenic agents in the body. For treatment and prevention, monovalent and polyvalent hyperimmune serums are used.
Symptomatic treatment of plague is aimed at relieving the symptoms of the main disease and secondary diseases. In the first days after infection, taking antihistamines is effective in desensitizing the body. Sick dogs are also prescribed antipyretic, antiviral, sedatives, astringents, analgesics, sulfonamides, vitamin-mineral complexes, general and local impact, nitrofuran derivatives, expectorants, hepatoprotectors. To treat the respiratory form, injections are used, inhalations and anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. Immunosuppressants and glucocorticoids are not used to treat canine distemper.
For normalization metabolic process To eliminate signs of intoxication, water-salt, nutrient solutions (Ringer's solution), homeopathy, and physiotherapy are used. Animals are prescribed a specially designed therapeutic diet, dietary feeding, proteolytic enzymes supporting professional ready-made feed"premium", "elite" class.
Prevention of plague
Protect your pet from infection with dangerous infectious diseases Timely vaccination will help. For these purposes, complex or single vaccines are used. The first vaccination is given to puppies at the age of 1.5 months. Subsequently, animals are vaccinated annually as a preventive measure.
Dog breeders should closely monitor the condition of their pets and pay attention to hygiene procedures, adhere to the vaccination schedule established by the veterinarian, create for the dog optimal conditions content, choose the right balanced, nutritious diet. To strengthen immunity, mineral and vitamin supplements are introduced into the diet of pets. When walking, you should limit your dog’s contact with street animals.
Veterinarian, surgeon, Yanchishina Natalya Gennadievna.
Veterinary clinic on Samokatnaya - "Junior VDC".
Distemper in dogs - a viral disease that is resistant to various physicochemical factors. At a temperature of minus 24 degrees, the canine distemper virus retains the ability to spread for 5 years. Heat on the contrary, the plague virus “disarms”; at 60 degrees it loses its ability to infect after 30 minutes; at 38 degrees it dies after 14 days.
The use of a 2% solution of caustic soda is detrimental to dog distemper; the activity disappears within 1 hour. A 1% formaldehyde solution or Demp's solution kills the virus within 3 hours.
Infection with the distemper virus is especially likely in at a young age dogs from 3 to 12 months. This is due to the fact that the dog’s young body is weakened due to the change of teeth and intensive growth of the body. Often, infection with the virus is associated with poor dog care. Puppies sucking their mother's milk are extremely rarely infected; along with the milk, antibodies enter the body that protect them from the virus. When it comes to the distemper virus, it is impossible to distinguish any specificity among breeds - any dog can get distemper. More often, dogs get sick in the spring or autumn during bad weather. The sources of distemper are infected dogs (sick or in which the virus is in the incubation period). Infection with plague occurs through direct contact with a sick animal or with dog grooming items. The virus can be carried by animals, humans, birds and even insects. A dog cured of distemper retains the ability to infect other animals for 2-3 months.
Distemper in dogs, symptoms. The incubation period for an infected dog is 2-3 weeks. At this time, the plague is almost invisible. Forms of the disease: hyperacute, acute, chronic, typical and atypical and fulminant (in this case the dog dies instantly without showing any symptoms of the disease).
Symptoms can be severe or mild:
The plague virus affects different organs.
When the lungs become infected, respiratory tract plague is observed:
In case of intestinal infection:
For skin infection with plague:
Skin infection with plague indicates a mild form of the disease and often goes unnoticed.
With the nervous form of distemper in dogs, the following symptoms appear:
Symptoms can last up to several months, sometimes remaining in a weakened form for life.
The nervous form of plague develops towards the end of the disease (at the beginning of 4 weeks). Often the first symptoms appear after the dog seems to have recovered.
One form of distemper is hardening of the fingertips. It can combine all of the above forms of infection. In this case, the temperature may remain normal, but signs of nervous and pulmonary infection and intestinal disorders appear. When the dog runs, clicking sounds are heard.
Acute form of plague can become chronic, lasting 3-4 months.
In such a case, the disease is almost always fatal.
Distemper in dogs, treatment.
Treatment of plague is complex. To date, there is not a single medicine against plague that has a virocidal property, so treatment consists of maintaining the general tone of the body and preventing bacterial activity.
Treatment for any form of plague consists of administering solutions to sick dogs:
The solution is prepared sterile and administered intravenously every day or every other day. The course consists of 10 injections.
To prevent paresis:
For deep paresis:
To reduce skeletal muscle tone:
To reduce intracranial pressure:
Dogs with central nervous system damage. very difficult to treat. A parooccipital block is used. At strong excitement the dog is injected with a 2.5% solution of aminazine intramuscularly or given sodium barbital.
To reduce dogs' agitation phenobarbital, benzonal, glutamic and folic acid. The course lasts 3 weeks. At the same time, a 1% solution of novocaine is injected subcutaneously at 0.5 ml per kilogram of the dog’s weight for 10 days.
In case of epileptic seizures in a dog Finlipsin, pagluferal-2 are prescribed for 6 weeks in doses depending on the degree of damage and the weight of the dog.
If there is a second bacterial infection tetracycline antibiotics, chloramphenicol, norsulfazole, streptomycin, clofaran, kefzol and gentamicin are prescribed.
Specific therapy consists of using sera obtained from convalescent dogs or hyperimmune horses.
With the plague strengthening the dog's immune system is justified. Various immunomodulators and immunostimulants are used.
For the purpose of prevention Various cardiac drugs are prescribed: sulfocamphocaine, co-carboxylase.
When treating dogs infected with the distemper virus, it is necessary to use a complex of vitamins group B (B1, B6 and B12) in combination with pantathene and nicotinamide. A dog 4-5 months old is prescribed 10-15 injections of each vitamin subcutaneously or intravenously in a mixture with supporting solutions.
Extremely severe cases introduce intravenous solutions dropwise in Ringer's solution in an amount of 250 ml.
Diet for a dog with distemper extremely important:
The diet must also be followed for some time after recovery.
A decoction of motherwort has a beneficial effect on slowing the development of the disease and preventing the transition to the nervous form of plague.
Distemper in dogs, prevention.
Vaccination - applied domestic vaccines: KF-668, Vakchum and EPM; and imported polyvalent vaccines: hexodog, pentodog, vanguard, kanvak and others. Best Method Vaccination of dogs against the distemper virus consists of using a high-quality imported vaccine followed by the use of a domestic one after 2 weeks. Puppies are vaccinated at 2-3 months, at 6 months, at 1 year and then once a year, followed by quarantine for 2 weeks. Before vaccination, dogs are dewormed and their body temperature is measured.
General prevention consists of vaccinating the dog no later than 1 month before appearing at exhibitions or other places where animals are crowded.
Our pet hotel does not allow an infected dog to enter. Before accepting a new guest, he undergoes a full examination, and during his stay at the hotel, the health of the dogs is constantly monitored by employees. In addition, we regularly treat and clean enclosures with a 2% solution of formaldehyde, sodium hydroxide, and chloramine. We don't have any rodents or any insects. We recommend similar measures to be taken by animal kennels and just dog owners.
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Canine plague is caused by a virus that is persistent in the external environment. A virus is released through saliva, feces and blood of a sick animal. A pet can become infected with plague not only through direct contact with a sick dog, but also through the owner’s shoes or clothing, when visiting a veterinary clinic.
Description of the disease
Carnivore plague is most common diagnosed in puppies from three months of age and young dogs. Up to three months, puppies are protected by maternal antibodies, so it is important not to interrupt the suckling period early. may not always protect the animal, especially if the rules for storing and transporting the vaccine are not followed.
The plague virus can affect any organs, they are isolated:
- Intestinal form, characterized by damage to the stomach and intestines;
- Pulmonary form– with signs respiratory infection, bronchopneumonia;
- Nervous form– with meningitis, meningoencephalitis, damage to the central and peripheral nervous system.
Intestinal and pulmonary forms are often accompanied skin manifestations: pustular rash, keratoses of the nasal planum and paw pads. Combined forms of plague are often found, and the nervous form is diagnosed, as a rule, at the final stage of the disease.
Symptoms of the disease
Infection with distemper in dogs most often results in first signs after seven days, but the virus can manifest itself even after a month. There are cases of asymptomatic plague; in this case, the virus is actively released into the external environment, and the dog looks healthy.
The first symptoms of the plague can be considered fever, chills (the nose is most often cold, not hot, as is commonly believed), sharp deterioration well-being. Animal refuses food or eats very reluctantly, moves little, does not play. The look is sad, yellowish discharge appears from the eyes, and the coat becomes dull and disheveled. Puppies lose weight very quickly.
The next stage can occur after a few hours or days, it is accompanied by a runny nose, and the dog rubs its nose with its paws, trying to get rid of the crusts. Coughing, wheezing may occur, the animal may breathe heavily and hide in dark places. If the stomach or intestines are affected common symptom is, at first profuse, then mixed with blood. The dog quickly weakens, walks, sways, and stumbles.
Nervous form of plague and next stage diseases appear periodically cramps of the neck muscles, their tension, twitching of the head. Paralysis and paresis of any muscle groups may occur. As symptoms worsen, the dog dies and falls into a coma.
Consequences of the disease
Plague can be divided into acute, abortive, chronic and subacute stages. The lightning-fast course of the disease leads to the death of the dog from rapidly increasing symptoms throughout the day. More often lightning form occurs in puppies and weakened dogs.
The acute form lasts two to three days, after which either death occurs or the disease recedes. The subacute course of the disease lasts a week or ten days, in most cases it ends with the pet’s recovery, but if complications arise, the dog may die.
Chronic course of plague not typical for domestic dogs, is very rare and is observed only in the nervous form. Often in older dogs with epileptic seizures is revealed chronic form plague
The abortive form of the disease does not require treatment, and ends full recovery in a few days. Clear signs and there are no symptoms, except for a slight malaise.
A strong, robust animal can survive the plague without consequences, but the disease in puppies at the age of teeth change leads to darkening and gradual destruction of the enamel. Damage to the stomach and intestines takes a very long time to heal, their functions are restored slowly, and there may be relapses throughout life.
Most serious complications leaves a nervous form plague: paresis and paralysis, disorders normal functioning areas of the brain can lead to lameness, deafness or blindness, and the animal may remain paralyzed.
Plague must be treated, since in almost any form and nature of the course of the disease, without drug therapy the dog dies. Only a small percentage of pets survive.
Treatment
How to treat
At the first signs of illness, the dog must be taken to the veterinarian so that he can diagnose the disease. Because clinical symptoms plagues may be similar to the symptoms of other dangerous diseases, then for setting accurate diagnosis a blood virus test is required or animal feces.
It is advisable to go to a clinic where there is equipment for testing. Confirmed using laboratory research the plague is necessary treat with massive drug therapy and administration of immunological serum.
At home, treatment of distemper in dogs can be carried out only with prescribed medical prescriptions and the possibility of independently installing IVs and intramuscular injections. This is especially important when severe forms diseases accompanied by severe intoxication.
Only a person who has medical education and extensive experience in treating this disease. No folk remedies, alcohol or vodka, cannot help treat this disease. It is important to immediately contact a good clinic at the first symptoms of the disease!
Quarantine necessary throughout the course of the disease, the dog is isolated in a separate room. If there are other dogs in the house, the likelihood of them becoming infected remains very high.
Diet
Dietary feeding mandatory for any form of plague. If affected gastrointestinal tract, That necessary substances dog gets out intravenous infusions, since the inflamed intestinal lining is not able to absorb microelements and vitamins. The cup of water is removed.
The dog is given herbal infusions and sorbents to reduce inflammation and intoxication. At frequent vomiting water or herbal decoction Give a tablespoon every half hour. Good effect gives raw chicken protein, liquid congee, decoction of burnet herb. After stool normalization, you can introduce meat and vegetable broths and boiled meat into the diet.
Dietary feeding is also necessary for pneumonic plague. If there are no signs of intestinal damage, and the course of the disease is not accompanied by vomiting, the dog fed with easily digestible food: meat broth, raw and boiled beef, cottage cheese. Dairy products should not be given, as they contribute to the formation of mucus.
Nervous plague is usually severe; in the absence of convulsions, the dog can be fed a light protein diet; vitamin complexes are administered intramuscularly or intravenously to stabilize the functioning of the nervous system.
Disease prevention
There is no other way to prevent canine plague other than vaccination. Even complete isolation of the pet will not be successful, since he can become infected through the air. All dogs over two months of age are vaccinated against distemper with a complex vaccine that includes a strain of the distemper virus. The vaccination is done twice, with an interval of three weeks. After the second vaccination, you must quarantine for two weeks until strong, stable immunity is formed.
Some breeders recommend a booster vaccination at seven months of age, followed by a follow-up vaccination at one year of age. Many people consider intermediate vaccination at seven months of age unnecessary, and Repeated annual vaccinations are recommended. Old or sick dogs are not vaccinated.
Discussion
Quite often, dogs that have had the plague and recovered safely return to the clinic a month later. in serious condition and with signs of nervous plague. This is not a re-infection, since the animal acquires lifelong immunity, but further development virus in nerve cells. It is the period of three to four weeks that is considered the most dangerous for the animal, since with any load on the body, the immune system fails and the virus is activated. How to prevent the development of the nervous form of plague, what methods exist to prevent the virus from multiplying in nerve cells?
Distemper is one of the most dangerous diseases that can threaten a dog. By learning more about how to protect your dog from infection, you can not worry about his health for many years to come.
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Plague
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It is quite difficult to say exactly how many days a pet is sick during the period of infection and treatment, as well as what consequences this viral disease can have. The main questions here are: can pets survive without vaccination, how to prevent and treat this dangerous disease?
Types (forms) of distemper in dogs: course of the disease and its features
How to treat the kennel or where to walk the dog? These issues cannot be called paramount. The incubation period of infection by the virus (group of paramyxoviruses) averages 40 days. For this reason, it is difficult to determine the time and source of infection. On the other hand, knowledge of the first signs of infection depending on the type (form) of distemper will allow you to take prompt measures to treat the animal.
There are only 5 forms of distemper in dogs
Intestinal plague manifests itself in regurgitation of mucus and diarrhea. Because of large quantity The dog begins to vomit the discharge first. At first, the liquid removed from the body will be transparent with yellowish color, over time, blood clots may appear in it. In parallel with this symptom, signs of tonsillitis (tonsillitis) will appear. As for diarrhea, already during incubation period Not only will the consistency of the stool change, but clots of blood and mucus and an unpleasant (putrid) smell will also appear.
The cutaneous form of the disease is less common, but its symptoms can be recognized almost immediately. You can become infected through direct contact with an infected animal, its personal belongings and food. Characteristic red formations appear in the area of the mouth and nose, thighs and ears. Clots of pus or secretion may form inside them, which later burst. Wounds with crusts appear at the site of formation brown color. Another and difficult to diagnose sign of the disease is hyperkeratosis - the appearance of compactions in the joint area.
The pneumonic form of distemper is extremely difficult for dogs to overcome. The virus causes inflammation of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe and causing a high fever. You can diagnose the disease yourself if you notice purulent discharge from the nostrils and inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis, keratitis) in a dog. Over time, the animal becomes weak, refuses to eat, and convulsions are possible.
The first and main symptom of nervous distemper is tic. Involuntary twitching and muscle contractions are clearly visible on the dog's face, abdomen and paws. Upon closer examination of the pet, you may notice a slight lack of coordination of movements, anxiety and agitation. Over time, seizures may occur. The nervous form is dangerous due to the development of paralysis, the consequences of which remain even after recovery - dragging paws, involuntary contraction sphincter or rectum.
The mixed form may have all of the above symptoms, which poses a big problem for diagnosing the disease.
Distemper in dogs - general symptoms
Besides specific symptoms for each form of the disease, there are general signs infection. Knowing how distemper manifests itself can save your dog's life.
The total incubation period is more than a month, so the first days of infection occur without any significant changes in the animal’s behavior. The first signs that may indicate distemper are lethargy, depression, loss of appetite or complete failure from food.
Another sign may be redness of the eyes. The manifestation of such a symptom may indicate the form of plague, but only a specialist can tell you how to determine it accurately. You can only observe how the disease manifests itself in other signs and urgently contact a veterinary hospital.
How does infection begin if the above symptoms did not occur? The first symptoms of mild plague are also fever and photophobia. An increase in a dog's body temperature to almost 40 degrees for a period of more than three days will help understand how to recognize other manifestations of the virus. The animal will huddle in a small space, avoid people and even make characteristic moans. In these cases, it is recommended to take a blood test as quickly as possible to confirm/refute a possible diagnosis.
What other signs of infection could there be? All owners know what their pet looks like under normal conditions. Sometimes symptoms in an adult dog include ruffled fur and constant restlessness. You can understand whether it is a disease or not only by observing how her day goes or whether the stressful state goes away over time.
Plague and treatment at home
After the first signs of distemper appear, the dog must be urgently hospitalized or a veterinarian called to the house. After confirmation of the diagnosis, care is carried out at home or in a veterinary hospital, depending on the form of the disease.
How to treat plague at home? Your doctor's recommendations will help you understand how to treat your dog. They must be followed strictly. You should not use folk remedies, as they may worsen the animal’s condition and the doctor will not know what to do in such a situation.
If the dog is sick, it needs to be complex treatment and provide peace. For this purpose, a diet is prescribed, vitamin complex and special medications that will maintain body tone.
Is it possible to cure a dog with one injection? No, such a drug does not exist. The same can be answered to the questions: is plague treated with herbs and is treatment with vodka effective? If you want to know how to save your pet, then be sure to ask what medicine or serum is administered to the dog and at what time, should the drug be stored in the refrigerator and where should it be placed after opening? What foods can antibiotics be combined with and where should the injection be given?
Distemper in dogs: is it transmitted to humans?
Can a person get distemper from a dog? Is this disease dangerous for the owner? These are normal questions that immediately arise in the minds of owners of an infected animal.
Experts say people should not think about whether the disease is contagious to them. Distemper is not transmitted to people from dogs. The same can be said about whether this virus is transmitted to the cat. Is feline distemper transmitted to people? The answer is the same. Your pets need your care and do not pose a threat if infected.
Distemper vaccine for dogs
Can a dog become infected again after recovery and how to prevent infection with distemper from an early age? A second infection with the virus is excluded, since the dog has already produced the necessary antibodies, but you should not hope for good health pet. Also in early childhood he should be given a distemper vaccine for dogs - this is the most effective remedy fight the disease.
Can adult dog get sick? There is almost 100% certainty that even a healthy adult animal will fall victim to this virus.
Can a vaccinated dog get sick? Full protection There is no cure for plague, but even after infection, owners may not notice the symptoms of the disease. They will be almost painless for the dog.
Vaccination is carried out in early age when the puppy is not yet 3 months old. After the first injection, you must quarantine for at least 2 weeks. Complications after vaccination are possible in cases where the injection was given to a not completely healthy animal or if contact with the virus occurred during quarantine.
How can a puppy become infected during quarantine? The virus can be brought into the home on clothing or shoes if there is contact with an infected animal, its belongings or feces.
When should a dog be vaccinated after the first year of life? Adult systematic vaccination is required once a year - it is imperative to adhere to these deadlines. After the injection, you may experience diarrhea, refusal to eat, or lethargy, but these symptoms will go away within one to three days. Without regular vaccination, the risk of death from the disease is very high.
You can administer distemper vaccine injections yourself at home, but then your dog’s passport will not have the appropriate note about the procedure. If it is not possible to vaccinate in a veterinary hospital, consult a specialist about where the injection is given and which drug should be chosen for this purpose.
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