Causes, symptoms and treatment of Distemper in dogs

Canine distemper is an infectious disease of dogs, which is prevalent worldwide.

Causes and symptoms:

Distemper is caused by a virus and is certainly one of the most dangerous diseases pertaining to dogs. The distemper virus is discharged in various secretions and excretions by an affected dog, specially during the acute stage of his illness. The virus contaminates the atmosphere, thus making distemper an airborne disease, which can be transferred among dogs even without actual body contact. Even if some affected dogs survive, they are often left with a permanent twitching of a group of muscles or gradual paralysis. Sometimes the paralysis may cause the dog to lose control over the bladder and bowels. Even at this stage the dog may often have a normal appetite. At this stage, however, recovery is very rare.

Symptoms start within two weeks of getting the infection. Initially the dog is dull and listless and there is lack of appetite. Along with this the dog develops fever around 40 or 104 F. these symptoms may detract on their own with the fever returning to normal, only to recur after a few days. This fluctuating elevation of temperature followed by loses of appetite watery eyes and nasal discharge later develops into a discharge thick with puss. A cough, lose, black, fowl swelling motions are other characteristics of this disease. In the later stages the virus often attacks the nervous system.

Treatment and prevention:

There is no specific treatment for the distemper virus infection. Symptomatic treatment with antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections n other drugs, along with fluid therapy as considered suitable by the veterinarian, form the best course of action along with good nursing, simple food and cleaning of the eyes and the nose frequently. Tender loving care along with treatment by the veterinarian play a great part in recovery.

For prevention of this awful disease, vaccination is almost foolproof, provided a reliable vaccine is used and the course of injection is given as per recommendations of experts. The pup should be kept inside the house on in a totally enclosed yard before he is vaccinated. Booster injections should preferably be given every year after the initial course of vaccination.

annmaryliz@gmail.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/causes-symptoms-and-treatment-of-distemper-in-dogs-1601806.html