by Debra Menager

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: February 17, 2009

Canine Distemper, a Virulent Threat

Canine distemper caused by a paramyxovirus, similar to one that causes measles in people, causes distemper in dogs of any age. But puppies 3 to 6 months are especially vulnerable. An estimated 75% of infections are fatal. Very young puppies and older dogs are most apt to die.

Spread of Infection

Infected body fluids (feces, urine, vomit, nasal drainage ) from a dog or wildlife (such as skunks, raccoons, and foxes) spread the paramyxovirus. Usually it's transmitted through air. A primary source may be dogs with mild canine distemper, misdiagnosed as "kennel cough". The infected animal coughs: fluids containing paramyxovirus spew through the air. Recovering dogs still shed paramyxovirus several weeks after symptoms disappear.

Any dog may ingest the paramyxovirus doing what all dogs do: sniffing, licking, or just breathing. Then macrophages (immune cells meant to destroy viruses) engulf the paramyxovirus
and carry it to lymph nodes. The lymphatic system connects to the bloodstream, which spreads the paramyxovirus to multiple organs.

Symptoms of Canine Distemper

Distemper symptoms vary with severity and locations of paramyxovirus attack. Mild cases may only have a "kennel cough". Distemper symptoms also may be dismissed as signs of a simple cold or allergy, teething problems in a young puppy, or "old age" in an older dog.

Don't ignore these symptoms, especially in young puppies not yet vaccinated, or older dogs that may not be current on re-vaccination:

*Fever: mild initially, increases after 3 to 6 days as infection spreads through lymphatic system. Fever may go away, and then return several days later as infection spreads through bloodstream to other organs (6 to 9 days).

*Discharge: eyes and nose

*Respiratory: cough, labored breathing.

*Intestinal : initially loss of interest in food, then vomiting and diarrhea.

*Neurological: muscle twitching or spasm (myoclonus), uncoordinated movements (ataxia), paralysis (full or partial), increased sensitivity (pain reactions, irritability to touch), decreasing mental ability.

*Seizures: may affect any part of the body, but a common one - seen only with canine distemper - is "chewing gum seizures" (dog appears to be chewing gum).

Fatal cases usually include neurological symptoms. Seizures, a symptom of attack on the central nervous system, may also become an agent of attack. Abnormal electrical discharges, produced by damaged neural tissue, create seizures. Continuing "electrical shorts" may cause more

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