While caring for a dog may often be a rewarding experience, it is still possible to experience some serious medical conditions that may affect your dog's health.
Canine Distemper is just one of the dangerous conditions that can negatively impact your dog's overall health. It's extremely important to be familiar with this condition, especially since it has a relatively high chance of being fatal to your dog.

WHAT IS CANINE DISTEMPER?

The condition known as Canine Distemper is actually caused by a virus, more specifically, paramyxovirus. The Canine Distemper Virus (also called CDV), is highly contagious, and has approximately a 50% chance of being fatal to an infected dog. CDV is also called a "multisystemic" disease, since it can spread to many of your dog's internal systems. Since the development of the vaccine against Canine Distemper, this disease has become much less common.

WHAT DOGS CAN GET CANINE DISTEMPER?

Today, the most common cases of Canine Distemper are seen in puppies between 3-6 months of age. The reason for this actually has to do with a crucial period of a puppy's life when they are extremely susceptible to many diseases because their immune systems are underdeveloped. Since many dogs today are vaccinated against Canine Distemper, it is highly possible that a puppy's mother has also been vaccinated. When a mother dog provides milk to her puppies, she is also transferring important antibodies to her puppies through the ingestion of special antibodies.

However, these antibodies often wear off before puppies can be vaccinated against distemper. It's very important to have puppies vaccinated before they reach the period where their immune systems are no longer protected from viruses such as the Canine Distemper Virus. It is possible for any dog to become infected with the Canine Distemper Virus, though this is generally rare due to the high rate of dogs that are successfully vaccinated.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT CANINE DISTEMPER?

There are currently no effective cures to completely eradicate the virus that causes Canine Distemper. However, the best preventive measure involves vaccinating your dog (usually while they are still puppies) against the Canine Distemper Virus. The vaccine usually consists of a modified form of the live virus, which causes the immune system to respond to the weakened virus and develop immunity. Since this virus is modified, it will not typically cause infection. There is also a "recombinant" vaccine available that consists of a virus "shell" that carries the parts of the distemper virus which will provoke an immune system response. Though complications from the "live virus" vaccine are relatively rare, some veterinarians still prefer to use the "recombinant" vaccine.

IS CANINE DISTEMPER CONTAGIOUS?

The problem with paramyxovirus (the virus that causes Canine Distemper) is that it is extremely contagious. Mere interaction with other infected dogs may be enough to transmit the disease. Infected animals usually transmit the disease through direct contact with bodily fluids, which can also be airborne.

Because of this fact, it is even more important to have your dog vaccinated against the Canine Distemper Virus.