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Distemper is a serious disease of dogs. Causes, symptoms and treatment

Distemper is a highly contagious and dangerous (often fatal) disease in dogs caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV), belonging to the paramyxovirus family. Proper prevention plays a key role in the fight against erosion.

Nasal distribution is common among canidae, mustelids, and raccoons. Animals can become infected with interspecies species, so dogs living outside the city are especially vulnerable to pathogens. Puppies older than 6 weeks are most often sick - not yet vaccinated, but deprived of antibodies received from their mother. A nasal nose can, however, affect pets at any age, regardless of race or gender. A person is resistant to the virus and cannot get infected from his pet.

The plague virus - what kind of disease is it?
This virus is most often transmitted directly through drops (even a cured dog can become infected within 13 months). Nasal infection can also be transmitted through food and, in the case of pregnant bitches, through the placenta. Since CDV is resistant to environmental factors, it can exist for up to several days outside the host body, indirectly moving through objects (for example, on shoes).

When the plague virus enters the animal's body, it multiplies rapidly, initially affecting the lymphatic organs and greatly weakening the immune system. Over time, CDV reaches other systems - digestive, respiratory, urinary and nervous. Therefore, the symptoms of nasal capititis vary greatly.

Symptoms of the plague and its forms
Nasal flow usually begins with a sudden jump in temperature (up to 41 C). It is characteristic that at the initial stage of the disease, the fever subsides within a few days, after which it increases again. The development of other symptoms depends on the form of the disease, that is, which organs are most severely affected by the viral attack. There is
catarrhal distemper, with high fever, diarrhea, nasal discharge and conjunctiva, animal apathy - occurs at the first stage of the disease;
Respiratory (pulmonary) with severe nasal exudate (serous, purulent or bloody), cough, shortness of breath - can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia and even to circulatory disorders;
gastrointestinal tract associated with gastroenteritis, which is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea - leads to severe dehydration and exhaustion;
nervous system with symptoms such as paresis, paralysis, nystagmus, muscle twitching, nervous tics, urinary and fecal incontinence, awkwardness of movements, dementia, epilepsy - neurological damage is irreversible and cannot be treated;
ophthalmic, conjunctivitis with serous-purulent discharge, lacrimation, photophobia, iritis or neuritis of the optic nerve - can lead to ulceration and perforation of the cornea and even blindness;
the skin, which manifests itself in the form of purulent bubbles (which turn into scabs when drying), which form on the skin of the abdomen, on the inner side of the thighs, on the lips, in the area of the eyes, auricles and nasal openings - can, for example, lead to inflammation of the ear canal.

Rare forms of plague are:
encephalitis in old dogs (a form of the neuro-nasal virus caused by the virus persists in the central nervous system after the disease), causing motor disorders, dementia, blindness;
a hard paw, manifested in thickening, drying and cracking of the fingertips and nasal mirrors.

During the course of the disease, one form of the nose can change into another. They often happen simultaneously. The exception is the nervous nose, which always works independently.

Treatment and prevention of distemper
The treatment of nasal lilies is difficult, and the mortality of infected animals reaches up to 80%. There are no targeted drugs for this disease or a specific treatment regimen. Therapy consists mainly in relieving the symptoms of the disease and strengthening the dog's immune system. Depending on the shape of the nasal cap, antibiotics, vitamin preparations, glucose drops, irrigation, antiemetics, eye drops, anticonvulsants can be used. Treatment should take place under the supervision of a veterinarian.

The most effective way to combat this disease is to prevent it by vaccinating the dog regularly. Veterinarians usually offer a multicomponent vaccine that also protects quadrupeds from other diseases (for example, parvovirus). The first dose is given to puppies 6-7 weeks. Then the vaccination is repeated twice with an interval of 3-4 weeks. Then the dog needs to be vaccinated every year." king567 customer care


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