Canine Distemper-dogs
Definition
• An acute to subacute contagious febrile and often fatal disease with respiratory, gastrointestinal, and CNS manifestations
• Caused by CDV, a morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family
• Affects many different species of the order Carnivora; mortality rate varies greatly among species.
This infamous viral disease of dogs used to be one of the leading causes of death in unvaccinated puppies throughout the world. Although the incidence of this disease has decreased dramatically over the years because of vaccination programs, the distemper virus is still out there and can strike without warning.
The virus itself is related to the human measles virus and can produce a number of different disease patterns in canines. Infected dogs shed the disease in all body excretions, and transmission usually occurs via airborne means. As a result, like canine cough, it is highly contagious and can travel some distance on an air current.
Distemper is considered a multifaceted disease; that is, it can affect a number of different body systems, including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Early signs of the disease include fever, loss of appetite, and a mild conjunctivitis (eye inflammation). These signs can come and go, lasting only a few days. As a result, pet owners often miss or ignore this
early phase of the disease. As the disease progresses, signs become more serious and extensive. They can include coughing, breathing difficulties, eye and nose discharges, vomiting and diarrhea, blindness, paralysis, and seizures.
The seizures associated with this disease often have their own unique presentation, called “chewing gum fits.” As the name implies, pets stricken as such will look as if they are chewing gum during the attack. In fact, many owners, when they see this, immediately think of rabies. The final outcome of an infection with the canine distemper depends on the extent of exposure, the strain of the virus involved, and the ability of the dog’s immune system to mount a defense against the virus (with the help of supportive treatment). Depending on these factors, the outcome of such an infection can present itself in one of four ways:
1. Death
2. Recovery with no lasting side effects
3. Recovery, with non-life-threatening side effects
4. Recovery, with life-threatening sequelae
Outcomes 1 and 2 are fairly self-explanatory. Non-life-threatening side effects that can result from distemper can include such conditions as hard pad and enamel hypoplasia. The former is characterized by a prominent thickening and proliferation of the pads of the feet; hence the name.
Enamel hypoplasia is a term used to describe the lack of normal enamel covering the tooth surfaces. This occurs in puppies stricken with distemper at an early age, before their permanent teeth have erupted. What happens is the virus attacks and kills off those cells responsible for manufacturing the tooth enamel; hence the new teeth grow in lacking this vital component. Needless to say, teeth lacking enamel are not very strong and tend to erode quickly, becoming brownish in color.
These innocuous side effects might be all that linger, or they might be coupled with more serious sequelae. One such side effect that could become life-threatening to some recovered cases is a degeneration of the nervous system, which can occur slowly or very rapidly. Dogs so affected sometimes show a progressive deterioration of both their motor skills and mental abilities. Rhythmic muscle twitching can become so bad that it totally disables the unfortunate pet. Seizures, paralysis, and incoordination can also become factors as progression proceeds. A diagnosis of canine distemper is based on a history of exposure, the absence of proper vaccination, and classical clinical signs associated with the disease (eye and nasal discharges, chewing gum fits, enamel hypoplasia, hard pad, etc.). In addition, direct microscopic evidence of the virus within blood cells, or within scrapings of the conjunctiva of the eye or tonsils, can help the veterinarian in the diagnosis.
There is no specific treatment for the canine distemper virus; as a result, supportive care with antibiotics, fluids, and anticonvulsants is indicated. Unfortunately, the overall prognosis is poor, with over 50 percent of dogs that exhibit severe signs dying in spite of good supportive care. Of those dogs that do recover, about 50 percent of them can be expected to develop some form of nervous system complication down the line. With recent advancements in veterinary dentistry, enamel restoration with artificial compounds has become available for those cases suffering from hypoplasia, and it is a viable way to prevent further tooth deterioration.
Immunization at an early age with a canine distemper vaccine is the cornerstone for preventing this disease. Any puppy or dog suspected of having the disease should be immediately isolated from its pack members. Disinfection of the contaminated premises with bleach (1 part bleach to 30 parts water) will also help reduce spread.
( source vet-zone )
• An acute to subacute contagious febrile and often fatal disease with respiratory, gastrointestinal, and CNS manifestations
• Caused by CDV, a morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family
• Affects many different species of the order Carnivora; mortality rate varies greatly among species.
This infamous viral disease of dogs used to be one of the leading causes of death in unvaccinated puppies throughout the world. Although the incidence of this disease has decreased dramatically over the years because of vaccination programs, the distemper virus is still out there and can strike without warning.
The virus itself is related to the human measles virus and can produce a number of different disease patterns in canines. Infected dogs shed the disease in all body excretions, and transmission usually occurs via airborne means. As a result, like canine cough, it is highly contagious and can travel some distance on an air current.
Distemper is considered a multifaceted disease; that is, it can affect a number of different body systems, including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Early signs of the disease include fever, loss of appetite, and a mild conjunctivitis (eye inflammation). These signs can come and go, lasting only a few days. As a result, pet owners often miss or ignore this
early phase of the disease. As the disease progresses, signs become more serious and extensive. They can include coughing, breathing difficulties, eye and nose discharges, vomiting and diarrhea, blindness, paralysis, and seizures.
The seizures associated with this disease often have their own unique presentation, called “chewing gum fits.” As the name implies, pets stricken as such will look as if they are chewing gum during the attack. In fact, many owners, when they see this, immediately think of rabies. The final outcome of an infection with the canine distemper depends on the extent of exposure, the strain of the virus involved, and the ability of the dog’s immune system to mount a defense against the virus (with the help of supportive treatment). Depending on these factors, the outcome of such an infection can present itself in one of four ways:
1. Death
2. Recovery with no lasting side effects
3. Recovery, with non-life-threatening side effects
4. Recovery, with life-threatening sequelae
Outcomes 1 and 2 are fairly self-explanatory. Non-life-threatening side effects that can result from distemper can include such conditions as hard pad and enamel hypoplasia. The former is characterized by a prominent thickening and proliferation of the pads of the feet; hence the name.
Enamel hypoplasia is a term used to describe the lack of normal enamel covering the tooth surfaces. This occurs in puppies stricken with distemper at an early age, before their permanent teeth have erupted. What happens is the virus attacks and kills off those cells responsible for manufacturing the tooth enamel; hence the new teeth grow in lacking this vital component. Needless to say, teeth lacking enamel are not very strong and tend to erode quickly, becoming brownish in color.
These innocuous side effects might be all that linger, or they might be coupled with more serious sequelae. One such side effect that could become life-threatening to some recovered cases is a degeneration of the nervous system, which can occur slowly or very rapidly. Dogs so affected sometimes show a progressive deterioration of both their motor skills and mental abilities. Rhythmic muscle twitching can become so bad that it totally disables the unfortunate pet. Seizures, paralysis, and incoordination can also become factors as progression proceeds. A diagnosis of canine distemper is based on a history of exposure, the absence of proper vaccination, and classical clinical signs associated with the disease (eye and nasal discharges, chewing gum fits, enamel hypoplasia, hard pad, etc.). In addition, direct microscopic evidence of the virus within blood cells, or within scrapings of the conjunctiva of the eye or tonsils, can help the veterinarian in the diagnosis.
There is no specific treatment for the canine distemper virus; as a result, supportive care with antibiotics, fluids, and anticonvulsants is indicated. Unfortunately, the overall prognosis is poor, with over 50 percent of dogs that exhibit severe signs dying in spite of good supportive care. Of those dogs that do recover, about 50 percent of them can be expected to develop some form of nervous system complication down the line. With recent advancements in veterinary dentistry, enamel restoration with artificial compounds has become available for those cases suffering from hypoplasia, and it is a viable way to prevent further tooth deterioration.
Immunization at an early age with a canine distemper vaccine is the cornerstone for preventing this disease. Any puppy or dog suspected of having the disease should be immediately isolated from its pack members. Disinfection of the contaminated premises with bleach (1 part bleach to 30 parts water) will also help reduce spread.
( source vet-zone )
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