Canine Distemper
Prevention and Treatment
Prevention is key to keeping your pet alive and healthy. Vaccination against distemper is recommended at three, four, and 12 months of age and then every two years (Ek-Kommonen et al, 1997). Currently, the vaccines commercially available in North America contain modified live CDV that is tissue culture adapted, primate tissue Vero cells adapted, or egg adapted or a canarypox-vectored CDV, in combination with modified live virus (MLV) canine adenovirus type 2, canine coronavirus, canine parainfluenza virus, and canine parvovirus (Deem et al,2000). vaccines derived from egg-adapted and primate tissue strains of the virus have generally been safer than canine tissue culture–adapted strains for nondomestic species since most vaccine-induced CDV infections result from the latter (Deem et al, 2000). It should be noted that some egg-adapted strain containing vaccines for use in ferrets, has induced disease in red pandas and anaphylaxis in some mustelids (notably ferrets) and viverrids (Deem et al, 2000). It was recommended in Deem et al's review of CDV that Veterinarians should consider obtaining signed consent forms prior to vaccinating pet ferrets and pretreating them with diphenhydramine to lessen the severity of anaphylactic reactions.
Because CDV is not as tough as other viruses and can not servive long outside of a host, the viral particles can be killed by exposure to heat, sunlight, various detergents, and soaps, and an assortment of chemicals(Baker Institute, 2007). Just keeping your pet's environment clean can help prevent it from getting canine distemper virus. Also, pet owners should try to minimize a new puppies exposure to other animals until it has completed all rounds of vaccines. Just because an animal doesnt look sick doesn't mean it can't infect your pet. Messling et al (2003) says that 50–70% of infected domestic
dogs may remain asymtomatic carries. Also remember that canine distemper doesn't just affect dogs. Domestic ferrets and black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are highly susceptible to natural CDV infection and have a fatality rate close to a 100% (Deem et al, 2000).
Diagnosis and treatment
If you suspect your pet might have canine distemper, get ahold of your vet immediately. Because CDV has varying symptoms that are similary to other diseases, it can be dificult to diagnose. In domestic dogs, acute generalized canine distemper infection is often diagnosed by clinical signs in animals not previously vaccinated. In nondomestic species, canine distemper may be suspected on the basis of clinical signs, but must be differentiated from such other diseases with respiratory, neurologic, and/or
gastrointestinal manifestations as rabies, feline panleukopenia, toxoplasmosis, canine parvovirus, lead poisoning, and bacterial enteritides Deem et al, 2000).Digital, nasal, and eyelid hyperkeratoses, common in infected ferrets and mink, are highly suggestive of infection (Deem et al, 2000). Any animal that is suspected of having CDV should be isolated from other aniamls and taken to a vet for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
Treating canine distemper infection is similar to treating any virus, in that there is no cure, and the treatment is supportive care. The care for an animal infected with canine distemper is aimed at limiting secondary bacterial invasion, supporting fluid balance, and controlling neurologic manifestations (Merck Manual, 2013). The environment in which a sick dog resides must be kept clean, warm, and free of chilly drafts and an effort should be made to keep eyes and nose as free of discharge as possible (Baker Institute, 2002). Broad-spectrum antibiotics, balanced electrolyte solutions, parenteral nutrition, antipyretics, analgesics, anticonvulsants, and glucocorticoid therapy may be used (Merck Manual, 2013; Baker Institute, 2002).
There is no single treatment that is uniformly successful or specific. Some, all, or more supportive care treatments may be needed depending on the stage and severity of the infection. A new product (PVX) made by Nuovo Biologics has claimed to be effectictive in treating canine distemper virus.
But even if a pet survives CDV, it may suffer long term effects. Enamel hypoplasia, the lack of tooth enamel, and hyperkeratosis, an unnatural and uncomfortable hardening of the nose and foot pads, are common afflictions of canine distemper virus survivors (Baker Institute, 2002).
References:
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Deem SL, Spelman LH, Yates RA, Montali RJ. CANINE DISTEMPER IN TERRESTRIAL CARNIVORES: A REVIEW. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 2000; 31(4): 441-451.
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Bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Baker Institute for Animal Health. c2002 [cited October 19, 2015] Available from: http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/animalhealth/page.php?id=1088
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Merckvetmanuals.com. Merck Manuals. c2013 [cited October 19, 2015] Available from: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/generalized_conditions/canine_distemper/overview_of_canine_distemper.html