How to prevent the spread of canine distemper?
The virus is readily inactivated by most commonly used disinfectants. Routine hygienic precautions are generally adequate to prevent spread. The most important factor in shelter decontamination is quarantine/removal of incubating and mildly/sub-clinically affected animals. Vaccination is the cornerstone of distemper prevention in a shelter.
What happens if you give a puppy a distemper shot?
Canine Distemper. The canine distemper virus affects a puppy’s entire system. Distemper symptoms include fever, appetite loss, discharge from the nose and eyes, breathing difficulties and vomiting and diarrhea. Some dogs develop neurological problems, including head tilting, circling and paralysis.
How does distemper affect the central nervous system in dogs?
Canine distemper is a virus that affects a dog ’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous systems, as well as the conjunctival membranes of the eye.
How old do dogs have to be to get canine distemper?
An understanding of the natural history of the disease will help establish an effective preventive plan. Canine distemper virus infects dogs and other mammals, including ferrets and raccoons. Dogs of all ages are susceptible if not previously immunized, although infection is most common in puppies less than 20 weeks of age.
How long does distemper survive in the environment?
Distemper virus survives no more than a few hours in the environment at room temperature. Cold and moist conditions increase survival and it can last for several weeks at near freezing temperatures. The virus is readily inactivated by most commonly used disinfectants.
Can a Raccoon get distemper from a dog?
Wild animals like raccoons, foxes, wolves, coyotes, skunks, ferrets, and mink can also get distemper. This means that an outbreak of distemper in the local wildlife population can put dogs at risk for catching the disease even if they do not come into contact with other dogs.