Distemper, the viral disease that affects hunting dogs

Distemper is a viral disease that affects dogs and has caused numerous victims over the centuries. Let's see the symptoms and prevention

Having a dog it is a positive experience for both our four-legged friend, both for the master. To better enjoy this bond we need to recreate the ideal conditions to guarantee him the physical well-being.

If establishing a relationship between hound and hunter, we must not neglect health. Our duty is to to protect it from dangerous diseases and sometimes lethal. When we take responsibility for having a dog, our duty is to think about its well-being and of consult the expertsi when we suspect a possible disease.

Il veterinarian he is the only one who knows how to best take care of our dog and help him overcome a possible one virus. Our four-legged friends are often outdoors so they are prone to numerous attacks to which they do not always manage to remain immune.

Among the most common is the distemper, the disease has caused several victims over the centuries. Even today it is deadly, but with vaccines the situation has improved.

The distemper present in Europe since the seventeenth century is based on a virus that is transmitted by contact. The first to describe it was Jenner in 1809, but the real cause was discovered by Carre in 1905.

The often lethal virus affects not only unvaccinated dogs, but also the ferret, fox and wolf. The disease spreads rapidly by contact between infected dogs. Usually the virus lurks in the nasal and ocular discharge, which forms droplets that are dispersed in the air. The virus, even if unstable outside its host, can be carried through the clothing of people in contact with infected dogs.

The period ofincubation ranges from 3 to 7 days. During this period, the symptoms are different. It initially manifests itself high fever up to 40 °, a this is added to the tearing of the nose and eyes, later on the appetite also decreases.

After this phase that usually lasts 2-3 days, the dog exhibits the classic symptoms of disease that affect various parts of the body, together or separately. The dog will suffer from digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomatitis, tonsillitis. As for therespiratory system our four-legged friend will suffer from cough, dyspnea.

As during incubation, in the central phase of the disease, the eye area is not spared. Our hound could suffer from purulent conjunctivitis.

Even the skin and nervous areas are not spared by the distemper. The adventure and thickening of the skin of the nose and plantar pads, are accompanied by convulsions, paralysis and muscle contractions.

In the worst cases the disease can lead to death. In case of recovery there are neurological consequences such as epilepsy, convulsions, which in some cases become chronic forms.

Il distemper is a viral disease, so there is no specific cure. In this case, the vet may decide to treat secondary bacterial infections of supportive care.

Among these there are antibiotic treatments to treat antibacterial infections, drugs to reduce digestive symptoms. They are flanked by these antiinflammatory e cures to encourage the dog to eat and drink.

The most effective prevention weapon is the Vaccine. This can be administered from 2 months and recall a month later. Starting from the first recall, the following ones are carried out every 12 months.

Based on the specific condition of the dog, the vet will decide which one vaccination protocol it is more suitable for our four-legged friend.