Distemper is a long-known and highly contagious viral infection that can affect various carnivorous wild animals as well as dogs and ferrets. It is also known as Carré's disease, after its discoverer, Henri Carré. Since the introduction of protective vaccination in 1960, outbreaks and mortality rates have been significantly reduced. However, with declining vaccination rates and the constant increase in dog imports from Eastern Europe, distemper is once again on the rise in Germany.
The causative agent of distemper is the canine distemper virus, which is closely related to the human measles virus. The virus can survive on clothing and objects for several days, but is killed by high temperatures and common disinfectants. However, it can remain infectious for several weeks at temperatures between zero and four degrees Celsius. Animals infect each other through direct contact with infectious bodily secretions and excretions (droplet infection). The virus can also be transmitted from the mother to the puppies in the womb before birth. Due to the low resistance of the pathogen in the environment, transmission via humans or contaminated objects can be disregarded. Puppies and young animals are particularly affected, although all age groups can generally fall ill.
The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes of the mouth or nose and begins to multiply in the lymph nodes of the upper respiratory tract. After just four days, the pathogens enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Not only the internal organs, but also the central nervous system, eyes, skin, and bone marrow can be affected. From the eighth day after initial contact with the virus and for up to eight weeks thereafter, infectious pathogens are excreted in bodily fluids.
Depending on the organs affected, different forms of distemper can be distinguished. After an incubation period of three to seven days, all forms usually start with high fever, apathy, and loss of appetite. The further course of the disease depends on the immune status of the infected animal. If sufficient antibodies are produced right at the start of the infection, the animal may show no or hardly any symptoms of the disease. If the organism is unable to produce enough antibodies, severe symptoms may develop, which are often fatal. While the general condition and the initial fever may improve briefly, a second fever is accompanied by organ colonization and secondary infections.
Depending on which organs are affected and which symptoms predominate, distemper is divided into the following forms of the disease:
This form affects the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and significant weight loss. In young animals that fall ill before teething, damage to the tooth enamel can occur, resulting in the typical "distemper teeth."
Purulent nasal discharge, sneezing, bronchitis, and pneumonia with a dry cough that becomes moist and, in some cases, severe respiratory distress (wheezing) are the main symptoms of this form of distemper. Conjunctivitis may also occur. If gastrointestinal symptoms occur together with respiratory symptoms, distemper is highly suspected.
If the eyes are affected, light sensitivity, inflammation of the inner eye, and corneal inflammation occur. In severe cases, blindness may result.
The skin form is characterized by extreme reddening of the skin on the lower abdomen, inner thighs, and inner ears, with blisters and pustules forming and ear inflammation.
Neurological symptoms usually only appear after the respiratory symptoms have subsided. Occasionally, the affected animals even get better within a few days, weeks, or months before the central nervous system symptoms appear. Caused by inflammation of the nerves, spinal cord, and brain, it can lead to convulsions, epileptic seizures, mental disorders, ataxia (coordination disorder), tics, muscle twitching, and loss of function with paralysis or deafness. Nervous distemper is chronic and incurable. Certain muscle twitching, known as distemper tics, can persist throughout the life of otherwise recovered animals.
In rare cases, severe forms of the disease are accompanied by excessive keratinization of the nose and pads, which usually occurs in the second week of the disease and in conjunction with neurological symptoms. This is therefore also known as hard pad disease. The occurrence of this form is considered an unfavorable sign in terms of the prognosis for recovery from the disease.
Since the virus can persist in nerve cells, eyes, or skin for reasons that have not yet been fully investigated, symptoms may still occur even years later. However, there is no virus excretion, so these animals no longer pose a risk of infection.
Regardless of the form in which the disease manifests itself, immediate veterinary examination is essential when the first symptoms appear with fever.
Based on your pet's medical history and the presence of characteristic symptoms, such as a combination of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, your vet will often be able to diagnose distemper. If the vaccination history is unclear and the symptoms are rather unspecific, conjunctival, tonsil, or genital mucous membrane swabs can be used to confirm the suspicion by detecting the pathogen. Antibody detection in the blood is not useful, as it is not possible to distinguish between vaccine antibodies and infection antibodies in vaccinated animals.
Since direct treatment of the virus is still not possible, treatment can only be supportive and symptomatic. In severe cases, intensive medical care in an animal hospital is necessary to ensure constant monitoring. An extremely important aspect of effective treatment is adherence to strict hygiene measures and the strict separation of sick and healthy animals, especially in the animal hospital.
Cough suppressants and expectorants are administered to combat respiratory problems. In cases of gastrointestinal symptoms with severe dehydration, fluid replacement is essential. Secondary bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics, and anticonvulsants are used in cases of epilepsy or other seizures. Your veterinarian will draw up a detailed treatment plan for you.
The prognosis depends heavily on the severity and progression of the disease. The most severe and often fatal cases occur in unvaccinated or insufficiently vaccinated and stressed (young) animals. In mild respiratory and gastrointestinal forms, rapid intervention can lead to favorable chances of recovery. In severe cases with feverish lung inflammation and neurological symptoms, the prognosis is poor to unfavorable.
Although the disease is rare in Germany today, it can still be a problem in regions where vaccination is not carried out consistently. The Standing Vaccination Commission for Veterinary Medicine (StiKo Vet), a committee of veterinary experts, therefore recommends vaccination against distemper as a "core component," which means that every dog and ferret should be protected against this disease at all times. Effective protection is especially important for hunting dogs and ferrets, as they may come into contact with infected wild animals. Breeding females, which are supposed to pass on many antibodies to their puppies, must also be well vaccinated. Puppies can be vaccinated from eight weeks of age.
For dogs, three consecutive vaccinations at eight, twelve, and 16 weeks of age and another at 15 months of age are recommended as a complete basic immunization. Booster vaccinations are then necessary at three-year intervals. Combination vaccines are usually used, which protect against parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and rabies in addition to distemper.
For ferrets, two vaccinations at eight and twelve weeks of age are sufficient for basic immunization. After that, annual booster vaccinations are necessary.
Your vet can send you a personalized vaccination schedule for your pet via petsXL, and you will automatically receive notifications when it is time to make another appointment.
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