Health Issues

K-9 Distemper Cases On The Rise Locally

Aaron C. Rainer, D.V.M., M.P.H.
East Lake Veterinary Clinic
Killeen, TX
http://www.eastlakevet.org

A recent eruption of canine distemper has local veterinarians worried. The Killeen Animal Control Division of the Killeen Police Department has announced that they have been notified of 16 new cases of canine distemper that have been treated at local veterinary hospitals in the past few weeks.

What is Canine Distemper?
Canine distemper is a virus that is an acute, contagious, febrile, and often fatal disease that is easily preventable through vaccination from your veterinarian. Canine distemper affects mostly dogs, but it can affect other household pets such as ferrets. Wildlife such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and skunks are also affected. There are three main systems that are affected: respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system. Often, distemper can present itself as a very common condition called kennel cough. Respiratory symptoms include coughing, sneezing, and runny eyes and nose. Distemper also can present with a gastrointestinal component. One may see diarrhea or vomiting. In many infected dogs, distemper can proceed to a nervous component in which depression and muscle tremors may present and lead to incoordination, often progressing to seizures. Often in distemper cases, veterinarians see hardened footpads and noses. Depending on the severity of infection and the animal’s immune response, these signs can eventually lead to death in a matter of days to weeks. Research has shown approximately 50% of dogs infected with the virus will die.

Transmission
Distemper is spread mostly through coughing where the virus becomes airborne, although it is spread in most bodily secretions, including urine. There is no breed predilection, yet young, unvaccinated puppies are more susceptible to contract the disease. Adults are not immune to this debilitating, often deadly virus.

Diagnosis & Treatment
It is very difficult to confirm canine distemper. Since there is no test that says positive or negative, the diagnosis is most often made by observing the entire clinical picture. Once diagnosed, distemper can be treated symptomatically, if the disease is not complicated by secondary bacterial invaders or severe neurological deficits. Appropriate health care includes isolation and symptomatic treatment of clinical signs. In other words, treat for the treatable. Methods of treatment may include, but are not limited to, IV Fluids, antibiotics, antiseizure medication, and nursing care. Recovered dogs are not carriers and do not shed the virus; so, there is little risk of other pets contracting the disease from recovered dogs.

Risk Factors
There are several risk factors for your dog. Dogs that have not undergone a veterinarian recommended vaccination protocol are at risk. Unvaccinated dogs that have recently been in contact with other unvaccinated dogs or have been in contact with dogs with questionable vaccination history are at risk. This includes animals that have recently been housed in a shelter environment.

Are Humans At Risk?
No. There does not appear to be a human health risk if exposed to canine distemper virus. At one point, it was thought that canine distemper virus caused multiple sclerosis; however, researchers now are implicating the human measles virus that is a close relative of canine distemper virus. They are different viruses; therefore, there is minimal risk for human illness.

Prevention
Vaccination remains the mainstay of prevention. The canine distemper vaccination protocol has been around for decades and still proves to be effective. Although vaccines are almost never 100%, vaccine manufacturers are continuing to back their product only if a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists. Buyers beware of feed store vaccines. Use caution if giving these products without consulting your veterinarian first.

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