Is the plague dangerous for humans? What to do if your dog is sick with distemper. Further development of the disease: forms of distemper

Distemper (plague) is a highly contagious and serious viral disease. The disease affects dogs and some species of wild animals such as raccoons, wolves, foxes and skunks. Domestic ferrets can also carry this virus. Distemper is a relative of the measles virus that infects humans and the rinderpest virus that infects livestock.

Young, unvaccinated puppies and older dogs tend to be more susceptible to the disease. Puppies that have already been infected have almost no chance of surviving, but adult dogs have a higher chance, with a mortality rate of about 50%.

The virus, which spreads directly, by airborne droplets or indirectly (through objects), upon contact with an animal, first enters the tonsils and lymph nodes, where it multiplies within one week. The virus then attacks the respiratory, urinary, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.

In the initial stages, the main symptoms of distemper in dogs are:

High fever (above 39.7°C), chills
If a dog has acute distemper, then its temperature will rise sharply, and then the animal will fall into a coma, which is almost always fatal.
Red and inflamed eyes, watery discharge from the nose and eyes
Lethargy and lack of appetite
Persistent cough
possible diarrhea and vomiting

In the later stages of the disease, the virus begins to attack other body systems, especially the nervous system. The dog may begin to develop symptoms that are characteristic of the defeat of the nervous system, such as epileptic seizures and convulsions.

Some strains of the virus can also cause the animal's paw pads to become abnormally wide or thick. In immunocompromised dogs, death can occur two to five weeks after the initial infection.

Causes of distemper

The virus can also develop from improperly attenuated vaccines, but this is rare. Bacterial respiratory and gastrointestinal infections can also increase a dog's vulnerability to disease. Unvaccinated dogs that have any kind of contact with an infected animal are at the highest risk of infection.

Distemper diagnosis

Canine distemper in dogs is diagnosed by a biochemical analysis of blood and urine, which can detect a decrease in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that protect the immune system in the initial stages of the disease (lymphopenia).

A serological blood test can detect the presence of antibodies, but it will not be able to distinguish between antibodies to a vaccine and to a virulent virus. skin, mucosa, and paw pads may also be tested for antibodies. An x-ray can be used to determine if an infected dog has pneumonia.

Treatment of distemper in dogs

Unfortunately, there is no cure for canine distemper. Treatment of the disease is mainly focused on relieving symptoms. If the animal is anorexic or has diarrhea, intravenous fluids will be required. Discharge from the nose and eyes should be cleaned regularly. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat secondary bacterial infections. Potassium bromide and anticonvulsants may be used to control convulsions and seizures. There are no antiviral drugs that are effective in treating distemper.

In the acute stage of the disease, the dog must be controlled for the development of pneumonia and dehydration from diarrhea. It is also necessary to control the central nervous system, as seizures and other nervous disorders can occur. The dog's chances of survival will depend on the strain of the virus and the strength of the animal's immune system. Full recovery from distemper is possible, but seizures and other fatal CNS disorders may occur two to three months after recovery. Fully recovered dogs do not carry the virus.

Distemper prevention

The best prevention against canine distemper in dogs is routine vaccination and immediate isolation of infected animals. Particular attention should be paid to newborn puppies, as they are particularly susceptible to disease.

Frequently Asked Questions About Distemper in Dogs

What are the main signs and symptoms of distemper?

The first signs of carnivore distemper are sneezing, coughing, and thick mucous discharge from the eyes and nose. High fever, lethargy, sudden vomiting and diarrhea, depression and loss of appetite can also be the first symptoms of the virus.

How do dogs get distemper?

The virus is transmitted from dog to dog by direct contact with urine, blood or saliva. Sneezing, coughing, sharing food and eating bowls are the main ways the virus is transmitted.

When should you contact the veterinarian?

Immediately! Please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible if you suspect that your dog has been infected with distemper. The virus spreads rapidly and requires intensive treatment.

Is distemper transmitted to humans?

No, distemper is a viral disease that affects dogs but is not harmful to humans, cats, or most other pets.

How is distemper diagnosed?

Distemper in dogs is usually diagnosed by specific symptoms, medical history, and blood and urine tests.

Which dogs are most susceptible to distemper?

Puppies and dogs under one year of age that have not been vaccinated are the most vulnerable to the virus. The most serious infections occur in puppies. Newborn puppies less than seven weeks old, born from a dog that has not been vaccinated, are extremely susceptible to the disease.

How can plague infection be prevented?

Make sure your dog is fully vaccinated. If you have a puppy, then he should be vaccinated at the age of six to eight weeks. Make sure he is out of reach of any other dogs that may be infected.

How to treat distemper in a dog?

There are currently no drugs that can destroy the virus. The dog will need intensive supportive care, which is the mainstay of treatment. Veterinarians may suggest intravenous fluids and antibiotics to help prevent dehydration and secondary infections, as well as boost the immune response.

Will my dog have health problems after recovering from distemper?

Dogs that are recovering from distemper may have seizures and other central nervous system disorders that may take months or even years to appear.

Improper maintenance, poor living conditions and unbalanced nutrition are the main causes of disease. One of the most dangerous diseases is distemper in dogs. Without treatment, the animal dies, so it is important to know what are the first symptoms of the disease and the main methods of treatment. The disease in each dog can proceed individually: lightning fast, acute, typical, or go into a chronic stage. It all depends on the reactivity of the dog's body.

Kare's disease (better known as distemper in dogs) is caused by infection with a virus from the group of paramyxoviruses. The causative agent can enter the body through the oral cavity or respiratory organs, while it penetrates into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body with the bloodstream. The virus can infect any organs and tissues, so the chances of survival are very low.

If a puppy gets sick, then its chances of survival are almost zero, while in an adult, with timely treatment started, they are 50%. After the illness, the dog receives strong immunity from this virus until the end of his days. Another 3 months after the illness, the dog is able to infect other individuals. Therefore, it must be isolated from other pets.

Methods of infection with the virus

The main source of infection is a sick animal. It can be not only a domesticated dog, but also wild carnivores, such as foxes, wolves, minks, ferrets. An infected animal releases the virus into the environment. This happens with secretions: feces, urine, salivary and lacrimal fluid. Even dead cells contain the virus. Therefore, a dog can become infected not only through direct contact with a sick animal. The danger is:

feeders from which a sick dog ate or drank;
on which the infected dog slept;
places of detention - enclosures, booths,;
even a pet dog can catch the virus. The owner can bring him into the house with dirty shoes. The virus can get into the yard on the wheels of a car.

Most often, infection occurs in the autumn-spring period and in winter. The virus feels great at low temperatures, even severe winter frosts are not afraid of it. But the heat negatively affects the vital activity of the virus. At high ambient temperatures, the virus quickly dies. Therefore, in the summer, infection occurs extremely rarely.

A sick animal is a carrier of the virus for the first few days. By the first signs it is still impossible to understand that the dog is ill with distemper. The hidden period lasts about a week. Sometimes the disease progresses sharply and after a couple of days symptoms of infection appear. There are cases when the disease proceeds in a latent form for two or even 3 weeks.

During the incubation period, the animal looks quite healthy, but already poses a threat to surrounding dogs. The virus is excreted from the body in the latent period, and even after the cure.

Who is at risk

Not a single dog is immune from distemper. For infection with the virus, the breed does not matter. Both yard terriers and the most elite animals get sick. The severity and duration of the disease depends on the physical health of the pet. Puppies are most often infected, whose immunity is still very weak in order to fight a viral infection.

Abandoned stray dogs get sick, the nutrition of which is so inadequate that one cannot even talk about health. Weakened dogs can also catch the virus. If the animal was infected, but he managed to recover, then immunity to this disease arises. If puppies feed on the milk of a mother who has previously suffered from the disease, then they also have their own immunity, which does not allow them to catch the virus.

The symptoms of canine distemper should be known to every dog breeder. Clinical manifestations of the disease can be different, but distemper can be diagnosed by the most common signs:

The very first thing the owner can pay attention to is increased. It can reach 40 degrees. But the absence of temperature does not mean that the animal is healthy. Very often, in small puppies, the temperature does not rise, which in vain reassures the owner.
The lethargy of a pet should definitely alert the owner. Infected animals look oppressed. They do not want to play, look lethargic, do not respond to the call of the owner.
If you examine areas of the body that do not have hair, you can notice a rash that indicates the presence of a viral infection in the body.
As the disease develops, and arise. The body of the dog is dehydrated, which brings additional torment.
Feeling the nose, you can see that it has become dry and very hot.
If the dog begins to refuse food, this can also serve as confirmation of the disease. may be complete or partial.
The skin starts to crack. Examining the paw pads and nose, you can find rough, cracked skin.
The dog begins to look for a dark secluded place for himself. She does not want to be under the bright rays of the sun.
Purulent contents begin to stand out from the eyes.
The dog begins, accompanied by purulent discharge from the sinuses.
The pet quickly begins to lose weight, lose weight.
The disease progresses rapidly. Already on the 3rd week they appear in the animal. Most often, the dog begins to pull the failed hind legs behind him.
The reflexes of the animal are weakened.
Seizures develop, somewhat reminiscent of epileptic seizures.

The virus negatively affects all organs and systems, but most often the lungs become its target. In this case, the symptoms will be slightly different. Here's what to look out for:

Hard breath. The dog shows how difficult it is to breathe.
Looking into the mouth, you can see the inflamed tonsils.
Occurring periodically sharp.
Purulent mucus appears from the nasal passages.
Increase in body temperature.

If the disease is localized in the intestine, then the animal refuses food completely. After examining the pharynx and tongue, you can see a white coating. Dog stools are liquid with a fetid pungent odor, the color of the discharge is most often yellowish. Diarrhea weakens the dog, it periodically begins to lose consciousness. Occasionally, small spots can be seen on the teeth.

A mild degree of the disease is diagnosed if the virus is localized in the skin. The body temperature is slightly increased, the only symptom is the appearance of blisters in areas free from hair.

Another type of disease is damage to the nervous system. The dog becomes overly aggressive, does not refuse food. By measuring the temperature, you can understand that the animal is sick with something. The temperature is quite high. Periodically, the animal experiences convulsive seizures, similar to an attack of epilepsy. The dog does not move much, when moving it is noticeable how it is lame. The hind legs may fail.

The disease can develop in an acute form, while the dog's body is severely depleted. Problems begin with the digestive tract. Diarrhea is changing. The eyes of the animal look unattractive. There are crusts in the corners. The coat of the dog becomes dull, traces of molting are visible. Usually the acute form of the disease ends in death, even if treatment has been started.

There is no specific drug for canine distemper virus. Everything that the veterinarian prescribes is aimed at maintaining the dog’s internal strength, strengthening immunity and the ability to overcome the virus on its own.

To eliminate paresis and reduce the excitation of the pet, special solutions of drugs are administered. Treatment must be entrusted to an experienced veterinarian. Appointments can be as follows: Mydocalm is able to reduce muscle tone, Prozerin is effective against paresis. The appointment of Phenobarbital helps to cope with overexcitation in the animal. If seizures similar to epileptic ones have begun, then Finlipsin is used.

Complex therapy consists in the use of life-supporting drugs: calcium gluconate, ascorbic acid in solution, glucose. The method of administration and dosage is prescribed by a specialist, taking into account the weight of the sick animal.

At home, distemper is also not treated!

A detailed story about the distemper on video

How to save a pet

Most importantly, according to veterinarians, it is necessary to vaccinate dogs against distemper. Puppies over 3 months of age are vaccinated, then annually.

Healthy and strong dogs are much easier to tolerate the disease, so the condition of the pet must be monitored constantly. , help strengthen the immune system and protect the dog from infection.

Don't let your dog roam the street on his own. She will definitely find herself inappropriate acquaintances in the form of feral and sick relatives, who are most often carriers of serious diseases (distemper,).

As you know, devoted friends of people, dogs are distinguished by good health and a sincere soul. However, despite all the power and strength of the animal, the body can not always cope with changes. One of the most dangerous pathological processes is Carre's disease. In the people, this disease is called distemper. Tellingly, this ailment mows down both young and mature individuals. Can humans get distemper from dogs? Let's try to find the answer to this question.

First you need to understand the nature of the disease. Distemper in dogs is a viral pathology that can affect both individual organs and entire systems. Tellingly, the causative agent of distemper is closely related to the human causative agent of measles. As shown by numerous studies, it affects not only dogs, but also other predators. But is a person prone to developing this disease?

The causative agent of Carre's disease is a virus containing RNA. A virus-infected animal excretes the virus with saliva. This is how the virus spreads. It is worth noting that this kind of virus can be isolated not only by sick individuals, but also by those who were previously sick. Distemper is contagious for a long period of time. Moreover, the owner of the animal can be the carrier of the virus. Himself, without knowing it, the owner can infect the dog. How? When a person moves, the virus gets on clothes and shoes. However, despite the fact that people can act as a carrier of the virus, a person can never get distemper from a sick dog. This applies to panleukopia and swine fever. Therefore, the fears of many owners are absolutely meaningless.

Ways of infection

The causes of Carre's disease are various. A predisposing factor to the development of this disease is inappropriate content rules, in particular, defective. In addition, infectious diseases can become a starting point.

The pathogen can enter the body of an animal in several ways. The first of these is the respiratory tract, the second is the digestive tract. A dog can become infected through direct contact with a sick individual. Moreover, personal hygiene items can provoke infection.

In some cases, distemper can be passed from mother to puppy through mother's milk. Transmissible virus from an unvaccinated adult to a puppy reduces the chances of getting rid of the disease.

Mostly babies aged 3 to 12 months become infected with distemper. It is important to remember that timely access to a specialist increases the chances of recovery. It is important to remember that only a veterinarian can identify distemper and begin treatment.

Clinical forms of the disease

So, the following clinical forms are characteristic of distemper:

nervous form. It is represented by muscle contractions, convulsions and aggressive behavior.
Pulmonary form, in particular, cough, inflammation of the lymphoid tissue.
intestinal form- skin rash.

Depending on the course, it can be fulminant, acute and chronic. The lightning-fast nature is characterized by the absence of obvious symptoms of the disease and a quick death. For a hyperacute course, an increase in temperature and a deterioration in appetite are characteristic. As a rule, such a course depletes the animal's body in a few days. In an acute course, all obvious signs of the disease are noted.

Tellingly, the lightning-fast form ends with the death of the pet, since the doctor can no longer help the animal.

dangerous age

The most tender age is represented by 2-12 months. Adult individuals can get the causative agent of distemper, but the course is weaker. Moreover, the breed of the animal also influences the resistance of the disease. For example, boxers are more resistant to, while shepherd dogs and hunting dog breeds are more susceptible to this pathogen.

Diagnostic methods

For an accurate diagnosis, the veterinarian must take not only blood from the animal, but also nasal discharge. A feature of the FPV virus is its late manifestation. As a rule, it appears on the third day. With the help of modern diagnostic methods, it becomes possible to detect distemper immediately after undeniable changes. The main laboratory symptom of the disease is a low white blood cell count.

How to treat?

Until today, doctors have not been able to invent an effective cure for Carre's disease. Because of this, therapy is based on several methods. First of all, the treatment is aimed at maintaining the general tone of the animal. A person must understand that the process of treatment itself is characterized by duration. Since each animal is an individual system, the treatment is prescribed in accordance with the characteristics of the organism.

If the disease was detected at an early stage, then the treatment consists in the administration of serum and gamma globulin. After that, the veterinarian prescribes antibiotics and a vitamin complex. The owner should approach the treatment of the dog responsibly and not self-medicate, as this approach can hasten the onset of death. In addition to medicines, the right one plays an important role. It contributes to the normalization of the state. The diet should accompany the dog even after the retreat of the disease. You can cope with distemper and alleviate the condition of the animal with the help of folk remedies. Alternative treatment is represented by herbal decoctions. You can normalize the functioning of the nervous system with the help of motherwort.

Preventive actions

The best way to prevent the development of distemper is. To date, there are several methods of vaccination. Only a veterinarian can choose the appropriate option. Veterinarians are of the opinion that a dog, up to 3 months old, does not retain immunity. However, it is necessary to vaccinate the animal in any case. The first time in childhood, and the second - in adulthood. Another preventive measure is to prevent unwanted contact with stray dogs, since a dog can get distemper from them.

In fact, the world knows several types of distemper, which affects only one category of animals. Tellingly, feline distemper is not dangerous to dogs and humans, as it is not transmitted. This also applies to swine fever. It is transmitted directly from one individual to another in only one category.

As you know, the Crimean disease causes problems with the nervous system in dogs. In addition, Carré's disease causes pneumonia, fever. As noted above, a person should not be afraid of Carre's disease.

Host contribution

A positive trend and a positive result of the disease depends on many factors, the main of which is human participation. The owner must give the sick animal appropriate care and due attention. In order for the chances of recovery to be maximum, a person must carry out eye cleaning activities without fail. There are also certain requirements for the premises. The room should have a dry and warm microclimate.

Distemper in dogs is caused by a virus. It is also called Karre's disease (Kare). The disease is resistant to various physical and chemical factors. So at a temperature of twenty-four degrees, bacteria can persist for five years. Statistics confirm the likelihood of infection with this virus in puppies from 3 to 12 months.

This state of affairs is due to weakened immunity due to the change of teeth and intensive growth. Any dog can catch the virus. Basically, the disease progresses in the spring or autumn periods, due to difficult weather conditions. Sick dogs are considered the source of the disease. The carriers of the virus are birds and insects.

How is distemper transmitted in dogs?

Distemper is transmitted in dogs in different ways. No pet is immune from this. The virus is present in the environment for several days. Its presence is in feces, urine, which was left by an infected animal.

Infection also occurs through the adherence of contaminants to the shoes of the owner of the dog. Another way is to find a dog in a common kennel or booth. You can catch the infection after the dog has been in a rented carrier bag. Infection can be provoked by lying on the bedding or feeding in the place where the sick animal was. The virus enters the courtyard of the house through the wheels of the transport.

Who is at risk

The main claims of veterinarians is the increased risk in dogs that walk without an owner. Homeless dogs are the most commonly affected. All this is due to an unbalanced diet, lack of vitamins.

It is necessary from an early age to wean the dog to sniff everything on the street. A weak immune system can affect the development of the disease. A pet is at risk after being infected with a tick or suffering from an infectious disease.

Symptoms of infection

The incubation period of the disease has the ability to be two or three weeks. During this period, it is difficult to recognize the distemper. With a hyperacute, acute, typical form, the dog can die instantly without any symptoms of the disease.

Veterinarians believe that the symptoms of distemper in dogs can be severe and mild. A characteristic sign of the presence of the virus is an increase in temperature by 1-3 degrees. Puppies up to the crescent may not have any symptoms. When hyperacute manifestation of distemper, the temperature rises suddenly. The dog doesn't eat. After that, he falls into a coma and dies.

You should be aware that the acute form can persist for a month. A sick dog is tormented by a fever. The temperature is at around 39.5-41 degrees. This state persists for ten or fifteen days. In rare cases, the temperature may drop after a few days.

To recognize the distemper will help the depressive state of the dog. He loses activity. He does not want to eat, take a walk or play. You can also notice the disappearance of reflexes. Often the animal seeks to hide in a quiet place and does not respond to its nickname. There are cases in which vomiting occurs. In the sinuses of the nose, the skin cracks, becomes covered with crusts.

Narrow experts note that the virus often affects different organs. If the infection has touched the respiratory organs, then the disease signals itself by secretions of pus from the eyes, nose, blocking the nasal passages. This situation causes difficulty in breathing.

Stomach injury in a dog

In situations where the stomach is exposed to infection, the pet is constantly thirsty, does not touch food. He faces constant fainting spells. There may be a white coating on the mucous membrane of the tongue.

When the virus infects the skin, blisters appear on it. With this manifestation, the disease is difficult to identify, since it proceeds in a latent form. The nervous degree of damage manifests itself more pronounced. There is an increase in temperature, but the appetite remains normal. The dog is in an irritable state. Veterinarians call the characteristic symptomatology of convulsions.

Lameness may develop, or paralysis of the limbs may be fixed. If the disease progresses, then paralysis of the respiratory or cardiac muscles occurs, leading to epileptic seizures. This state of affairs causes the death of the dog. Negative symptoms have the ability to manifest themselves for several months or be present in a weakened form for many years. A similar condition can manifest itself in the last stages of distemper in a dog.

Another variety of distemper stands out when hardening of the fingertips is noted. It can combine all the ways of infection. The temperature may be normal. Symptoms of a pulmonary or nerve infection may appear. Pronounced signs are a violation of the gastrointestinal tract and clattering sounds that accompany dogs while running.

With untimely treatment, the acute form of distemper can turn into a chronic one. Its duration is several months. Unpleasant symptoms are manifested by diarrhea, constipation. The dog is constantly emaciated, as he refuses to eat. The dog has unhealthy hairline. Dried crusts are observed in the corners of the eyes.

Diagnosis of an infection in a dog

A veterinarian can identify the disease based on clinical manifestations. Laboratory diagnostic methods are used. When using them, you can exclude infection with leptospirosis, enteritis. Veterinarians explain that in the initial stages of the disease they have the same symptoms with distemper.

Among them, enzyme immunoassay is used in the clinic. It involves the use of materials (blood, nasopharyngeal swabs and other biological fluids). Using the method, you can detect the antigen.

To recognize the pathogen in cell culture allows the polymerase chain reaction of neutralization and complement fixation. Using the method of genetic engineering, fragments of the DNA virus are detected. Biological tests are being made.

To whom is the virus transmitted

Can the infection be passed on to another dog? To this, veterinarians give a positive answer. Such a viral infection has the ability to be transmitted by airborne droplets. Therefore, it is enough for a dog to breathe on another pet to infect it.

At the first symptoms of the disease, the owner can begin a course of treatment for the dog. The infection is not transmitted to humans. The first priority in treatment is to keep the house clean. If there is an unvaccinated pet in the room, the floor covering should be regularly treated with disinfectants.

How to treat

The owner of the dog must respond to the presence of negative symptoms in the animal. In this aspect, it must be remembered that timely treatment several times increases the chances of a favorable outcome. The correct treatment tactic is to contact a veterinarian who knows exactly what kind of disease: distemper in dogs. When diagnosing damage to the nervous system, the veterinarian will be able to develop a therapy that will take into account all possible complications.

Etiotropic therapy can eliminate the causative agent of plague. Serum production is performed with antibodies from a dog that has already had the disease. There are many anti-plague drugs on the market. Doctors included medicines produced by the Narvak and Biocenter manufacturers in the line of effective ones.

The dosage is selected taking into account the body weight of the dog, since up to five kilograms two milliliters of serum are injected. For larger dogs, a dose of 5 ml is selected. The medicine must be given once. In the event that the symptoms do not disappear, it is necessary to repeat the reception after 24 hours.

Veterinarians warn that the presence of negative symptoms in distemper greatly undermines the body's defenses. To prevent undesirable consequences, the dog needs to be given immunostimulants. They contain interferon, which suppresses the vital activity of the virus.

You need to pierce the dog with a solution of calcium and vitamin B. At elevated temperatures, the dog should be given antipyretic drugs. When the disease hits the respiratory tract, the pet experiences severe coughing spells and difficulties with oxygen supply. Then you need to help the dog to remove sputum from the lungs.

Bromhexine or mukaltin will help to cope with the tasks. A narrow specialist can prescribe the required dose. With purulent discharge from the eyes, buy drops at the pharmacy.

Folk remedies for the distemper virus

Distemper can be cured by using traditional medicine recipes. But they need to be combined only with the recommendations of a veterinarian. For this purpose, you can use one egg and 20 grams of honey. This composition can be beaten with a fork.

The resulting solution is drawn into a syringe without a needle. It is required to pour the mixture exclusively on the root of the tongue. This method will help her better assimilation by the dog. Course therapy is carried out for three or four days. The mixture should be poured three times a day at the same interval. The dog should always have warm water available.

An effective remedy is a recipe based on one egg, 20 grams of honey and 25 ml. vodka. The composition can be given to a pet that has strong immunity, since otherwise, there will be no result. Do not give to a dog with pronounced symptoms of the disease. It is given in the same way once for two days. The dog should be given plenty of warm water to drink.

You can reduce intoxication with decoctions of chamomile and St. John's wort. To prepare them, you need to pour 10 grams of each herb with 100 grams of boiling water and insist for three hours. Give the dog a decoction of 50 ml once a day. With a nervous breakdown, motherwort tincture will be effective, which must be given twice a day in the same volume. Veterinarians note that motherwort slows down the development of the disease and prevents its transition to a nervous form.

Veterinarians warn that canine distemper disease can cause complications. Only a doctor can respond to the possibility of complications. Therefore, one cannot rely only on folk remedies.

Distemper diet

Proper nutrition plays an important role in recovery. The diet should be observed for a short period and after recovery. Chopped meat or minced meat, cottage cheese, kefir, milk are recommended. Be sure to give a raw egg twice every seven days.

It is also good to feed the animal with a decoction based on rice with soaked crackers, boiled liver, meat broths. You can supplement the diet with oatmeal and vegetables. Portions should be small. Motherwort tincture will help to exclude the transition of the infection to the nervous stage.

Preventive actions

Vaccination (specific method) is carried out with vaccines KF 668, EPM of domestic production. Polyvalent vaccines such as hexadog, vanguard and others are considered the most effective. Vaccination of puppies is shown at 2-3, 6 months, one year and then every year. The vaccination is done in two stages (0 day and 14 days - the second injection). Vaccination is carried out at an early age, since the mother's immune system is only able to protect it for up to three months. Animals tolerate the procedure easily.

The doctor must make a note in the veterinary passport about the vaccination. The quarantine is three weeks. Moreover, during this period, the animal is not desirable to contact with other individuals. It is recommended twice a day to thoroughly wash the floors, clean shoes. Disinfection in the room is carried out with a solution of chloramine. It is believed that the virus persists at low temperatures, so the room in which the dog is kept must be warm.

According to statistics, vaccination protects the animal from infection by 99%. It has been established that puppies may not survive infection, and in adult animals the chances are 50/50. If a puppy is vaccinated with a latent stage of the disease, then he will not be able to survive.

If the infection of the puppy occurred immediately after the introduction of the vaccine, then the probability of survival is small, since immunity has not yet developed. Before this, the dog needs to be dewormed and measured body temperature. Vaccination should be carried out a month before the expected visit to exhibitions and places of mass congestion of animals.

Distemper vaccination for animals

Vaccination does not guarantee against infection. It is the preparation of the animal's body so that it can cope with the disease. It has been established that a vaccinated animal tolerates the disease more easily. Within three months, a dog that has been ill can infect other dogs.

You can not allow the contact of a pet with stray dogs, drink from a puddle, lick feces. It is necessary to carefully select a place for walking the dog. After each walk, it is required to wipe the paws, change the bedding periodically or wash it. The owner of the dog must contribute to his recovery. It is important to massage during the recovery period and make a balanced menu.

Food should be different. Meat is a source of natural protein and should form the basis of the diet. It can be replaced with by-products. To diversify the diet, vegetables are added to cereals: parsnips, bell peppers, beets. Compliance with all the rules will allow the animal to remain healthy.

In the treatment of viral diseases in canines, special importance is attached to rehabilitation after a dangerous disease - plague.
The introduction of special drugs in the first hours allows you to minimize the adverse effects, so the properties of antiviral drugs are manifested.
It is important to recognize the plague by its first symptoms.

Symptoms and signs

The first signal that something is wrong with the pet is a change in its behavior. In the first few hours of activation of the virus, the first stage of the disease starts.
A tropic plague virus selects an organ that is susceptible to its effects, so there are different forms and types of distemper.

Symptoms of pneumonic plague

Quite often the target is: the upper respiratory tract, bronchi, nasopharynx. Very often the lungs are involved in the process.

Signs:

Eyes with viscous, copious discharge;
Runny nose, swelling of the mucous membrane of the nome, the appearance of crusts in the nose, shortness of breath with a closed mouth;
Heat;
Cough, wheezing, shortness of breath.
The animal lies all the time, drinks a lot, has no appetite.

The lightning-fast form quickly turns the malaise into pneumonia, the pet dies in a day.

Symptoms of intestinal plague

The stomach and intestinal tract of the animal is another weak point where plague viruses rush. The intestinal form is dangerous for puppies up to six months old, not vaccinated against distemper. Its main features are:

Temperature rise;
Repeated vomiting, diarrhea after drinking or feeding, appetite suffers;
Diarrhea with blood clots, offensive smell;
Dryness of mucous membranes, white tongue with indentations from teeth;
Loss of consciousness, collapse.

The fulminant form of intestinal plague ends in death from severe intoxication, coma, and intestinal bleeding.

Nervous distemper and its symptoms

This form gives complications in the form of paralysis, deafness or visual impairment, periodic frequent epileptic seizures, clonic convulsions. The development of the disease against the background of recovery after a pulmonary or intestinal form is characteristic.

Temperature rise;
Unsteadiness of gait
head up movements;
Unmotivated aggression;
Cramps and twitching of the neck muscles;
epileptic seizures;

The nervous form of the plague is so unpredictable and so often produces complications incompatible with life that it is impossible to make predictions. With the development of meningoencephalitis, the pet dies or remains disabled.

Cutaneous plague

The mild form proceeds almost imperceptibly for the owner, there is only a general, without specific symptoms, a depressed state of the dog. Bubbles and spots are localized on the abdomen, the temperature rises, dandruff is visible at the end of the disease. If the skin form is not complicated, then the prognosis is the most favorable.

Symptoms

The radical and undeniable presence of a difference in the diagnosis of distemper with diseases with similar symptoms is sometimes minimal, the special signs are rather small:

Viral gastroenteritis differs from the plague in that the body temperature is lowered during enteritis, high readings are noted only on the first day, the temperature during the plague is noted for the entire period.
The nervous form of the plague sometimes resembles the picture of rabies in dogs, but with plague there are always purulent discharges, there is no inflammation process in the upper respiratory tract with hydrophobia.

Treatment at home

If a dog has distemper, only a doctor can identify the symptoms and treatment. It is not recommended to engage in self-treatment and rehabilitation of such a complex and unpredictable disease as distemper. This is due not only to the fact that the diagnosis can be incorrectly made, but also to the recommendation of the urgent administration of hyperimmune serum and interferons, which suppress the development of the virus.

Important: immunostimulants and interferons are not recommended for the manifestation of nervous phenomena!

If it is not possible to quickly contact a veterinarian, then symptomatic treatment can be offered. This means that the pet is treated by suppressing the life-threatening symptoms of the disease. But maintenance therapy should be aimed at strengthening protection, so do not get carried away with antibiotics or other drugs, they reduce immunity:

Intravenous injections of calcium preparations are certainly prescribed for distemper to compensate for the deficiency of calcium ions, and vitamins to support internal reserves.
Antibiotics (only in injections) for inflammation of the upper respiratory tract and intestines.
In case of intoxication, the animal must be soldered, giving rehydrating solutions and herbal decoctions in a teaspoon every half hour.

It is undesirable to use antipyretic drugs and corticosteroids during the febrile stage of the plague. High temperature inhibits the reproduction of the virus.

Prices for medicines

Calcium gluconate in ampoules - 40 rubles.
Ascorbic acid - 55 rubles.
Gammavit 10 ml - 160 rubles.
Cefotaxime - 20 rubles.
Saline 200 ml - 45 rubles.
Regidron - 270 rubles.

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How to treat

If you have identified symptoms of distemper in a dog, only a doctor will tell you how to treat it. If the owner was able to deliver the pet to the clinic on the very first appearance of symptoms of the plague, then the treatment prognosis is favorable. The intensity of treatment is regulated, taking into account the characteristics of age, nature, severity of symptoms, relying on instrumental studies.

There are a number of advantages to this approach:

the animal is periodically given intravenous infusions;
she is under round-the-clock medical supervision;
if you feel worse, the risk of losing the animal is much less than even with the best home treatment.

But the animals often suffer greatly and are afraid to be left alone, so the decision to leave the pet in the clinic is always made by the owner.

Treatment can take place at home with the advice of a veterinarian: the doctor comes, puts a dropper and makes injections, assesses the condition of the dog, and makes recommendations. Of course, in an emergency, the doctor may not have time to help with a sharp change in the dog's condition.

Distemper treatment takes at least two weeks. The nervous form of the plague is difficult and time consuming to cure, but there have been cases where recovery occurs spontaneously. It all depends on the individual qualities of the dog's health, its immune status and concomitant diseases.

Complications of the plague sometimes occur after a few weeks, against the background of the absolute health of the pet. Most often, these are the consequences of damage to the gray matter of the brain, the death of neurons and the nervous system. The dog retains lameness and slight difficulties in the mobility of the limbs, deafness may occur, and epileptic seizures may persist. But complications can be, if the puppy has been ill during the change of teeth, then the permanent teeth become ulcerated, dark.

Complications after the nervous form of distemper, unfortunately, are irreversible, due to the death of brain cells. In rare cases, after some time, lost functions can be restored, but this depends more on the adaptive capabilities of the animal.

Successful treatment of a serious and insidious disease, which is considered distemper of dogs, is preferably carried out only under the supervision of a physician. Timely diagnosis, the introduction of immune and antiviral drugs, good care can prevent complications.

The reasons

The causative agent of distemper in dogs is a virus belonging to the group of paramyxoviruses. A dog can become infected with the causative agent of the disease through the digestive system and respiratory organs. Having penetrated into the body, the virus begins to spread rapidly along with the blood flow throughout the body and settles in almost all organs and tissues.

A sick dog excretes a dangerous pathogen with saliva, feces, urine, mucous secretions from the eyes. The virus is also found in epithelial, dead skin cells.

In this regard, there are several possible sources of infection:

Sick animals. In addition to domestic dogs, it can be ferrets, hyenas, wolves, jackals, minks, foxes.
Feeders, bedding.
Premises for keeping - aviaries, booths.
The virus can be carried into the home and by the person on shoes or clothing.

After direct infection, a latent period continues for several days, during which the virus actively multiplies in the body, but there are still no external symptoms of the disease. The incubation period lasts on average 5-7 days, but can be extended to three weeks, or reduced to two days.

Kare's disease does not apply to seasonal diseases, the virus survives well at temperatures down to minus 24 degrees. At the same time, a pattern was revealed in which a larger percentage of dogs with distemper is registered in spring or autumn. Despite the fact that during the incubation period the dog looks absolutely healthy, it is already a source of infection.

The distemper virus can be excreted from the body of a dog for several weeks after its successful recovery. The risk group includes weakened animals that do not receive proper nutrition, puppies from one month to a year, stray animals.

Puppies up to two months old, feeding on the milk of a mother who, when she had the disease, have their own immunity and therefore very rarely become infected from a sick animal.

Canine distemper in dogs is caused by a virus from the paramyxovirus family (contains RNA). This pathogen is extremely close in its structure and characteristics to the virus that causes measles in hosts. It is similar to the causative agent of plague in large (and, of course, small) livestock.

It is important to take precautions when dealing with sick or even recovered animals.

The causative agent is extremely stable. Unless it dies instantly in boiling water, so be sure to disinfect care items for a sick pet in this way (bowls, toys).

Even after complete recovery (when dogs have clinical signs of distemper), a virus remains in the blood that can cause the disease. Therefore, the animal can infect other pets. Even nasal discharge contains a dangerous microorganism. But the most dangerous are urine and feces.

The course of the disease

Canine distemper can be fulminant, acute, or chronic. The fulminant course passes without obvious clinical signs of the disease, and the death of the animal occurs in one day. The hyperacute form of distemper is manifested by a sharp jump in temperature, refusal to eat.

The dog falls into a coma and dies in 2-3 days. In the acute form of the disease, all signs of distemper are present - temperature, lethargy, inhibition of reflexes, dyspeptic disorders, photophobia. Conjunctivitis and rhinitis develop.

The chronic form of the disease can proceed for several months with periods of exacerbation and remission of the vital activity of the virus. Damage to the nervous system is considered to be an extremely unfavorable prognosis - with the appearance of epileptic seizures, paresis and paralysis, in almost 90% of cases, a sick dog dies.

Dogs that have had distemper often remain inferior. They may suffer from hearing, smell and vision, and nervous disorders appear. Some animals are mentally disturbed.