Distemper in dogs: signs, symptoms, treatment at home

Distemper (Pestis) is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, intoxication, damage to the skin and mucous membranes, respiratory and digestive organs in dogs. In some cases, it causes severe manifestations of meningitis and encephalitis.

Distemper has been known since the domestication of dogs. In the writings of Aristotle it is described as a sore throat. In Russia, it appeared in 1762 in Crimea and was called the “Crimean disease.” The viral nature of the plague was first proven in 1905 by the French scientist Carré (Carré disease).

Causes of distemper in dogs

The development of distemper in dogs occurs for one, only reason - the penetration into the animal’s body of a highly contagious virus belonging to the paramyxovirus family. It is characterized by the following features:

capable of very rapid reproduction;
has a strong pathogenic effect on the body;
can affect several organ systems at once or a specific one;
remains active in the physiological secretions of a sick dog for a week, and under favorable conditions, even more.

Once the virus enters the animal’s body, the dog itself becomes its carrier and source of infection.

Where can a dog get distemper?

A dog infected with distemper. Note the purulent discharge and hyperkeratotic nose.

A dog can become infected with distemper anywhere, even at home. The source of infection is the secretions of another animal - a carrier of the virus. The virus can enter the body of a healthy pet in two ways: through the digestive tract and the respiratory system, so almost any object poses a danger, not to mention direct contact with a sick dog. This:

feces, discharge during estrus, saliva, etc.;
booth, aviary;
Bowl;
litter and so on.

The owner himself can “bring” distemper infection into the house, for example, on shoes. Cats can transmit the virus in the same way if they walk outside but come home to spend the night.

How does the plague virus spread?

HPV enters the body through airborne droplets, contact and household methods. It is carried by infected animals: dogs, foxes, wolves, raccoons, mustelids.

The virus is stable, persists in the environment for a long time and completely dies only with prolonged exposure to a temperature of 100°C.

A dog can become infected through:
saliva, urine, feces, discharge from the urethra, vagina, eyes;
sweat;
pus from pustules on the body;
bedding, bowls, toys and other dog household items.

The canine distemper virus can always strike, but the greatest likelihood of infection is during the “wet” seasons: spring and autumn.

Mechanism of disease development

After the distemper virus has entered the animal’s body, it begins to actively multiply. The owner will not immediately determine that his pet is sick. The first days the dog is in its normal state. The latent reproduction period of the virus can be an average of a week, but sometimes two or even three. A very rare situation occurs when signs of the disease appear 2-3 days after contact between a healthy and an infected dog. This is only possible if the animal has virtually no immunity.

Note: a dog that has had distemper remains immune to the virus for life.

After the incubation period has passed and the virus has multiplied sufficiently, the first signs of the disease appear.

Initial symptoms of canine distemper

How does canine distemper manifest at the initial stage? The most common primary symptoms include:

lethargy;
depressed look;
swelling and redness of the eyes;
tousled fur;
sensitivity to light (the dog begins to look for a darker place);
disorders of the digestive tract;
mucous discharge from the nose and eyes.

Not all animals exhibit these signs to the same extent. Their severity depends on the state of immunity, lifestyle, age and other factors. In addition, some symptoms of plague may predominate, or others may be added to those listed (for example, increased body temperature). It is also important which organ system is most affected by the virus.

Further development of the disease: forms of plague

Symptoms of distemper in dogs are rarely observed in isolated form, since the virus affects the entire body. However, based on those that are most pronounced, several forms of the disease are conventionally distinguished.

Form

Symptoms

Pulmonary

The animal's body temperature rises and a cough occurs. Discharge from the eyes and nostrils is purulent in nature. The dog refuses to eat and drinks a lot of water. Diarrhea and vomiting gradually develop.

Nervous

The animal is suffering from severe thirst. Muscle twitching is characteristic. Irritability and aggressiveness appear. If left untreated, the hind limbs become paralyzed and epilepsy occurs. When the cardiac and pulmonary muscle fibers are paralyzed, the dog dies.

Intestinal

The pet does not eat, is very weakened, to the point of losing consciousness. The surface of the tongue becomes white due to plaque. The animal suffers from vomiting and diarrhea. In the latter case, the discharge is yellowish.

Skin

Rashes appear on the pet’s body, which later develop into pustules and ulcers. If they become infected, severe inflammation occurs. Despite the fact that this form of the disease is considered the mildest in terms of prognosis, if left untreated, the pet may die from exhaustion.

In addition to classification according to the clinical picture, several forms of distemper in dogs are distinguished based on the duration of the disease.

Lightning fast. Symptoms hardly appear, but the animal dies within 24 hours.
Super acute. There is a very high temperature. The animal refuses food. Death occurs on the second or third day.
Spicy. Characterized by the above symptoms.
Chronic. Periods of remission alternate with relapses. The duration of the disease is up to several months.

Attention! If any deviations in the behavior or condition of the dog appear, you should immediately contact a veterinarian and get tested.

Do pets get better?

Distemper should be treated only under the close attention of a specialist. You cannot self-medicate or use any folk remedies. Many people like to pour alcohol into their dog for any infection. If the stage is advanced, then it will not help, but will only aggravate the situation.

Treatment takes a very long time, recovery is too difficult. A recovered animal may still have serious consequences after the illness, for example, tics, partial loss of hearing and vision, paralysis and much more.

Treatment

The veterinarian prescribes a comprehensive treatment. The animal receives not only drugs against distemper, but also vitamins to support the immune system, local antibiotics to treat the eyes, nose and skin.

The dog is placed in a dark place, clean and well ventilated. You should definitely stick to your diet. For complete recovery, various physiological procedures are prescribed.

Attention! There will be no complete recovery; nervous plague will certainly leave behind serious complications.

Drugs

Help for a dog with distemper must be provided in a timely and professional manner. Treatment is complex and goes in several directions:

anti-distemper serum;
immunoglobulin (interferon);
immunostimulants and immunomodulators (fosprenil, ribotan, immunofan and others);
antibiotics (used according to symptoms: chloramphenicol, norsulfazole, kefzol, clofaran);
drugs to support cardiac activity (sulfocamphocaine, co-carboxylase);
vitamins (groups B, C, pantathene, nicotinamide);
drugs to relieve intoxication and dehydration;
antihistamines;
drugs and substances for relieving seizures (forvet);
drugs to prevent paresis (prozerin, strychnine);
drugs to reduce muscle tone (mydocalm);
injection to lower blood pressure (magnesium sulfate, furasemide tablets);
substances to reduce excitability (phenofarbital, benzonal, folic and glutamic acid);
for epilepsy, if present (finlipsin, pagluferal -2).

Conditions for keeping a sick dog:

Provide peace.
Place in a dry, dark room.
Diet (porridge, soup, meat, egg, cottage cheese, kefir).

There is still no cure for this terrible disease. Complex treatment is aimed at maintaining the general condition of the animal and to prevent various types of infections that may appear against the background of the disease.

Reference! A decoction of motherwort will help slow down the course of the disease and prevent it from developing into a nervous form.

Is it possible to drink it with vodka?

It is common among people to drink vodka for a sick animal. And in many cases, this is a really good way to get your dog back on his feet if there are no veterinary clinics nearby. This procedure must be done several times. After a while, the pet begins to feel hungry, begins to eat and becomes more active.

But the experts themselves are against such treatment. No one knows how an organism with a damaged nervous system will react to alcohol. It can only worsen the intoxication of the body.

Attention! This method only works in the early stages of the disease. Consult your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

Diagnostics

After listening to complaints from the owner and examining the dog externally, the specialist will definitely prescribe laboratory diagnostics. In most cases, the study will require taking blood and swabs from the eyes (nose, mouth).

To identify a virus and determine its type, it is possible to use methods such as:

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) – allows you to detect the disease at an early stage;
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – also has high sensitivity;
susceptibility test;
tests to determine antigen in a dog’s blood;
neutralization reaction - carried out to determine the species.

Today, there are many other laboratory diagnostic methods that can detect distemper virus in dog tissue. The choice of one method or another is within the competence of the specialist.

Therapeutic measures

Treatment of distemper in dogs is possible only after a comprehensive diagnosis. Due to similar symptoms, it is necessary to separate the disease from other pathologies: parvovirus enteritis, piroplasmosis, rabies, infectious hepatitis, salmonellosis, leptospirosis.

Laboratory tests include blood tests and mucous membrane swabs. Sick animals have a reduced content of lymphocytes.

To detect the virus, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are used. ELISA allows you to detect fragments of the viral agent even during the incubation period, and PCR determines its specific type. If a certain form is suspected, an ultrasound or x-ray is performed. These studies are used to understand the extent of damage to internal organs.

Final therapy includes:

elimination of the pathogen;
elimination of emerging symptoms;
restoration of immunity and organs affected by the viral agent.

Injections for dogs against distemper are the only possible method of drug therapy until vomiting is eliminated and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is normalized. Oral administration of drugs is not allowed.

“Veterinarians do not give a 100% guarantee of recovery for such a diagnosis.

Due to the many features in therapy, you cannot resort to self-medication. Traditional methods that rely on the healing power of vodka can lead to the death of your pet. When the intestines become infected, the mucous membranes are often affected by ulcers and are very vulnerable to exposure to aggressive elements.

It is also prohibited to use folk recipes based on herbs. They are fraught with allergic reactions, so they are used only as directed and under the supervision of a doctor.

“Drug therapy recommended by veterinarians is expensive and time-consuming. Despite this, it is important to strictly follow the instructions you receive. This is the only way to save your four-legged pet.

In a home with a sick animal, it is necessary to regularly clean the room, bedding and bowls.

Medicines prescribed by the veterinarian

During the incubation period or at the initial stage, they try to treat the pathology with specific therapy. The patient is given intramuscular or subcutaneous injections of antiviral serum. It is produced from the blood of a dog that has become immune to the virus after recovery.

The course of injections is 3 days. Depending on the condition of the animal, the serum is administered once or twice. Antibodies that enter the infected body are duplicated by the patient’s immune system. This increases the chances of successfully destroying the pathogen.

“In case of fulminant and acute course with pronounced nervous syndrome, specific therapy is not used. In these cases, injections can lead to the death of the patient.

Additional methods of therapy include leukocyte plasma transfusion and immunomodulators. They stimulate the body's immune response, which increases resistance to the virus.

Symptomatic therapy

When carrying out symptomatic therapy, the main emphasis is on preventing the occurrence of secondary infection. The four-legged patient is prescribed a mandatory course of antibacterial drugs. The duration of antibiotic therapy is determined individually. On average it lasts about 7 days. If the alarming symptoms subside, continue taking the medications for another 3 days.

Antibiotics deal a strong blow not only to the virus, but also to the body’s immune system. To restore intestinal microflora, probiotics and lactobacilli are used.

The importance of symptomatic therapy increases in the later stages of the disease. In this case, the serum does not bring the desired effect. Hope remains only in the body's own strength. To do this, the four-legged patient’s symptoms are relieved and immunity is boosted. Your doctor may prescribe the following medications:

antiepileptic and anticonvulsant;
anti-inflammatory;
antidiarrheal;
Lugol's solution or boric acid - rinsing the sinuses;
diuretics;
prevention and treatment of paralysis;
B vitamins – stimulation of the immune response;
Regidron, Ringer's solution - elimination of the consequences of intoxication, restoration of water-salt balance;
means for removing phlegm;
antibacterial eye drops;
analgesics;
antiemetics.

For skin syndrome, emphasis is placed on treating the affected areas with antiseptics. To prevent scratching, it is recommended to purchase a protective collar. For hyperkeratosis of the paw pads, that is, excessive thickening of the skin, treatment is carried out with Vaseline and sea buckthorn oil.

Diet correction

To reduce the load on the gastrointestinal tract, you will have to follow a mandatory therapeutic diet:

Avoid feeding if you have no appetite. Forcing food is fraught with a new attack of vomiting. If the appetite remains, then the hunger strike is carried out for 24 hours.
On the second day after fasting, start introducing dietary foods. For a weakened stomach, thin porridges and slimy soups that have an enveloping effect are suitable.
Change the water regularly and monitor its quantity. Stay hydrated. If the animal is unable to drink on its own, offer it an ice cube or pour a small amount of liquid through a syringe.
If there is no deterioration, add minced lean meat, boiled liver and meat broth to the diet.
Introduce boiled meat, vegetables and quail eggs no earlier than 7-9 days of the diet.

When the condition is stable, the animal is gradually returned to its usual diet. During the diet, be sure to add vitamins and minerals to your food as prescribed by your veterinarian.

To create a comfortable environment, eliminate excess light. Curtain the windows and block out noise sources. To prevent the spread of infection, burn the old bedding and buy disposable diapers. If you have problems with urination, you will have to burn them after each use.

Prognosis for recovery

The probability of recovery is 15-75%. The final percentage depends on the amount of the virus that has penetrated, its shape, the state of the immune system, age, severity of the pathology and many other important factors. An increased likelihood of death is observed in puppies under one year of age.

Even vaccinations do not provide 100% protection against infection. Existing vaccines only reduce possible risks and alleviate the course of the disease. Despite this, there remains the possibility of complications in case of recovery.

The intestinal form is fraught with chronic colitis and enteritis, and the pulmonary form is fraught with pathologies of the lungs, heart and stomach. Due to the harmful effects of the virus, tooth enamel and vision deteriorate, the sense of smell decreases, and mental disorders occur.

Prevention of plague

To prevent your dog from getting sick, the most important preventive measure is vaccination. The first time the distemper vaccine is given when the puppy is over 3 months of age. After this, vaccination will need to be carried out once every year.

The state of the pet’s immune system is of great preventive importance. The better the immunity, the lower the risk of infection and the higher the likelihood of a quick recovery in case of illness. Simple principles of keeping your dog will help strengthen your dog’s defenses:

clean bedding and bowl;
good nutrition;
periodic introduction of vitamin complexes into the feed;
regular walks.

Washing the paws upon arrival from the street will also help protect the animal from distemper, if the dog lives with the owner in the same room. In addition, you need to avoid dubious “acquaintances” with your four-legged friend, do not let him off the leash and do not leave him unattended.

Treatment at home, folk treatment

Home treatment is no less effective than antibiotic treatment; it is also reasonable to combine home treatment for plague with drug treatment. How is plague treated at home?

- Egg with honey.

Take one raw chicken egg and 20-30 grams of honey. beat the resulting mixture with a mixer or fork. Fill a syringe and pour into the dog's mouth 2-3 times a day. Make sure your dog does not spit out the mixture. It is also equally important that the dog always has warm drinking water.

— Egg with honey and vodka.

Vodka, where would we be without it! As already written above, there is a separate method of treatment with vodka alone, but in combination with honey and eggs this is a separate method. Take also one raw chicken egg, 20-30 grams of honey and 25 grams of vodka. Also beat the mixture with a fork or mixer, put it into a syringe and pour it into the dog’s mouth. It is recommended to use this composition no more than once a day to avoid negative consequences.

— Medicinal plants for the treatment of plague.

Chamomile and St. John's wort in the form of a decoction are good for reducing intoxication in a dog's body. Take 10 grams of St. John's wort and chamomile in the form of cut leaves, not tea bags. Pour 100 grams of boiling water and leave for up to 6 hours. Next, give the dog 50 ml once a day.

We remind you that traditional methods of treatment do not negate medications and it is highly recommended to consult a doctor.

Which dogs are at risk?

Any dog can get distemper, regardless of age and breed. Those four-legged friends who have weakened immune systems are more likely to become infected. These could be dogs recovering from another illness or injury, homeless yard animals, with an immune system weakened by malnutrition and lifestyle. In addition, a high incidence rate is recorded among puppies under one year of age. Puppies that are breastfed, as a rule, do not get canine distemper.

There are different degrees of risk of infection with distemper for dogs of different breeds. Thus, terriers and mongrels are considered more resistant to the virus. Owners of shepherd dogs who suffer from this disease quite seriously turn to veterinarians. The highest probability of contracting distemper is in dogs belonging to hunting breeds and regularly leading their destined lifestyle. This is due to the fact that wolves, foxes, and some other wild animals also suffer from the distemper virus.

Can there be complications of distemper in dogs?

Unfortunately, a fifth of dogs who have had distemper develop complications. They can vary in nature: from minor to serious. What exactly the consequences may be depends on the form of the disease. For example, intestinal leads to the development of chronic gastrointestinal diseases (colitis, enteritis), pulmonary causes pathologies of the heart, lungs, and stomach. A common complication of distemper in dogs is paralysis of the hind limbs.

Only timely contact with a veterinarian can be the key to preventing the development of complications of distemper and the death of the dog!