One positive case of a deadly canine virus led to the temporary closure of the Wellington SPCA for seven days as a precaution to contain the spread at their kennels. This highlights the importance to keep your pet’s inoculations updated.
Here are some important factoids about the virus as listed by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA website (not to be confused with rabies or hondsdolheid):
- Canine distemper is a highly contagious virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs.
- Although it mainly affects dogs, the disease affects other carnivore species, like the bat-eared fox and African Wild dog.
- In the home environment, the virus spreads amongst unvaccinated dogs, which highlights the need for herd immunity to be ensured by vaccinating all puppies/dogs.
- The virus is spread through body fluid, like nasal mucus for example. It is most commonly spread by the inhalation of particles from infected dogs.
- A dog still carries the virus for weeks (or up to three months) following infection and recovery if the dog is not properly quarantined.
- The virus can spread to vulnerable dogs after contact with contaminated clothing, blankets, food bowls etc. This makes isolation of your pup-patient of utmost importance.
- Symptoms become visible after a few days as dogs often appear “normal” at the beginning. Initial symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes and a sore throat. The dog is contagious to other dogs by this stage.
- The dog’s temperature will reach approximately 39.7°C.
- In days that follow, the symptoms worsen with the tonsils becoming enlarged, and the dog may develop diarrhea.
- After about four weeks the virus begins to affect the brain in which the dog will start twitching and gradually experience severe convulsions.
- Convulsions can become so frequent and aggressive, that it can lead to fatality in infected dogs.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA website further states that there is no known treatment for Canine distemper.
“Support treatment consists of controlling the spread and severity of secondary symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Constant care is needed to make your dog as comfortable as possible.”
This serves as a reminder of the importance to keep man’s best friend’s vaccinations up-to-date as early as puppy-stages.
