Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Canine distemper is a serious infectious disease caused by canine distemper virus (CDV). The virus can infect dogs, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and some big cats, including lions and tigers. The QOL is highly contagious and is easily spread through direct contact or airborne transmission (for example through coughing, kissing, etc) of dogs or wild animals infected, as well as through bowls of contaminated water, toys, and clothing of bed with the dogs to come in contact.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puppies and dogs that have not been vaccinated are particularly susceptible to this disease, due to the virus infects the respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous. The symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases and that is why it is recommended to do a series of joint studies to be more effective diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The infection begins when the macrophages ingest the QOL inhaled. The virus enters the lymphoid tissues and begins to replicate or reproduce. The infected cells then release viremia that is seen in the blood. In a few days, the virus infects all of the lymphoid tissue; for days 6 to 9, the virus also infects the tissues and gastrointestinal and urogenital. The virus also invades the epithelial surface of the brain and the central nervous system, causing neurological diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the symptoms of canine distemper include: fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and thick discharge mucopurulent of the eyes and the nose. Some affected dogs develop seizures, tremors, and\/or spasms. Others die because of a serious infection of the central nervous system. The duration of the disease varies from 10 days to several weeks with a high mortality rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The diagnosis of canine distemper is based on the clinical history, signs and laboratory results. The biochemical tests of the blood show a decrease in the number of white blood cells, a condition called lymphopenia<\/a>. This is the first phase of the disease, which usually lasts for 3 to 6 days. The second phase vir\u00e9mica lasts for several days more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Given that there is no one medication that can kill the virus, the treatment consists of supportive care. This includes nutritional support, fluid therapy to prevent dehydration and drugs to control vomiting and diarrhea. The veterinarian can recommend the isolation of the sick dog to prevent the infection of other household pets. Since the signs of distemper may resemble other conditions, it is important for your veterinarian to perform a full series of tests to confirm the diagnosis and to determine the strain of canine distemper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the signs of canine distemper are so varied, it is important that a veterinarian examine any dog that displays any of these symptoms. The veterinary clinic must perform a series of tests to determine the underlying cause of the problem, including blood tests (chemistry panel, CBC) test stool for parasites canines<\/a> and perhaps x-rays of the chest. In addition, they must perform a PCR test to look for evidence of the virus in bodily fluids. This test is very sensitive and can detect tiny amounts of virus present in the body fluids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A result of PCR-positive means that the dog is infected with CDV and that the virus is replicating currently in the body. However, the PCR results are not conclusive and the vet may recommend further laboratory assessment, including a series of nasal swabs for several days to see if the dog is eliminating the virus in the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is very important to vaccinate adult dogs against canine distemper virus. Puppies should be vaccinated at six weeks of the first dose followed by a booster after every three or four weeks until they are 16 weeks. The puppies who sign up in shelters or are given up for adoption before this age should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, as they may have maternal antibodies that decrease with time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The survival rate of a dog with QOL is poor, particularly those who develop signs of neurological worsening. These dogs will likely be euthanized; however, those who only have a gastrointestinal disease or respiratory and remain stable have a good prognosis for long-term recovery with supportive care.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The virus is not easily transmitted between dogs, but can be spread to humans through the inhalation of infectious droplets and contact with contaminated objects, such as bowls of food and water. The most effective method to prevent canine distemper is the routine vaccination and isolation of the puppies have not been vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canine distemper is a very serious disease and fatal disease which is difficult to treat once it starts. There is No cure for the virus, but the treatment focuses on supporting the dog while your immune system fights the infection. The treatment involves a stay in the hospital, in isolation from other dogs, vaccination and control of the symptoms to make sure they do not get worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Affected animals develop a wide range of symptoms that depend on the strain of virus and the strength of the immune response of the host. The signs of disease of the upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal are often observed first, followed by neurological signs such as muscle spasms (dyskinesia), and focal seizures or generalized. Occasionally, the infection progresses to a stage in which the infected dog can not neutralize the virus and inflamed within the respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin and eye. The dogs in this late phase tend to be pir\u00e9ticos (febrile), depressed and with diarrhea. They can also develop a disease of the pads hard where the pads of the feet are thickened and enlarged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The vaccine prevents most cases of canine distemper in dogs, but this disease remains common in shelters and areas where you meet a lot of dogs. Even the dogs are fully vaccinated can contract canine distemper, especially puppies and young adults in shelters or by direct contact with wild animals sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Veterinarians will usually diagnose canine distemper by a combination of clinical signs, laboratory tests, and findings of an autopsy. The test to confirm the diagnosis is a PCR-reverse transcriptase that analyzes the virus in samples of tissue from an affected animal. This test is very specific and can be a useful tool to confirm the infection when it is suspected but not confirmed by other means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to its gravity, a dog diagnosed with canine distemper must be kept isolated until they can be sure that no one else is infected with the virus and is fighting the infection. A veterinary hospital can provide to your dog fluids to prevent dehydration, medications for vomiting and diarrhea, and anticonvulsants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The virus is spread through direct contact with infected dogs and wild animals, or indirectly through exposure to respiratory droplets. When an infected dog coughs, sneezes, or saliva, released infectious droplets in the air and on surfaces such as bowls of food and water. The virus can also spread via the hands of staff or volunteers of the shelter infected, and through fomites, as a team or bedding contaminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canine distemper is highly contagious, and infected dogs shed the virus through their bodily secretions. The removal usually stops within a month, but in dogs infected with neurological symptoms may continue for 6 to 8 months. The PCR tests are available to identify the presence of the virus of canine distemper in stool or urine. Infected dogs must remain in quarantine until their PCR results are negative or until a veterinarian approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Infected dogs tend to exhibit a combination of systemic symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems, and nervous signs such as depression, confusion, and abnormal behavior. In some cases, the virus invades the lymphatic tissue, causing a severe suppression of white blood cells and moves to the lungs, intestines, eyes, skin and the central nervous system. The final stages of canine distemper can include pneumonia, seizures, and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, many dogs haven diagnosed with distemper because the initial signs are similar to other illnesses such as parvovirus, kennel cough, or the flu. The infection by the distemper virus is difficult to detect and the vaccine only protects against the asymptomatic phase of the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDiagnosis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPrevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n